Evaluating a Novel Hydrocolloid Alternative for Yogurt Production: Rheological, Microstructural, and Sensory Properties

This study aimed to assess the viability of a new gelling agent, formed by a combination of disodium 5-guanylate and lactic acid, as a potential substitute for conventional hydrocolloids in yogurt production. Six different yogurt samples containing novel gel (combination of lactic acid and disodium...

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Main Authors: F. N. U. Akshit, Ting Mao, Shwetha Poojary, Venkata Chelikani, Maneesha S. Mohan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2252
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author F. N. U. Akshit
Ting Mao
Shwetha Poojary
Venkata Chelikani
Maneesha S. Mohan
author_facet F. N. U. Akshit
Ting Mao
Shwetha Poojary
Venkata Chelikani
Maneesha S. Mohan
author_sort F. N. U. Akshit
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to assess the viability of a new gelling agent, formed by a combination of disodium 5-guanylate and lactic acid, as a potential substitute for conventional hydrocolloids in yogurt production. Six different yogurt samples containing novel gel (combination of lactic acid and disodium 5-guanylate), disodium 5-guanylate, gelatin, agar-agar, lactic acid, and a control yogurt without any hydrocolloid or other additives, were studied. As expected, all the yogurt samples exhibited shear-thinning behavior. The novel gel yogurt, when compared to the control yogurt, displayed similar viscosity at a low shear rate of 4.5 s<sup>−1</sup> (mimicking the shearing during manual scooping with a spoon) and lower viscosity at a shear rate of 60.8 s<sup>−1</sup> (mimicking the agitation in the mouth). Notably, the novel gel yogurt demonstrated a lower flow behavior index (0.13 vs. 0.40 on day 1), reduced syneresis (23.37% vs. 33.75%), and had a higher consistency coefficient (9.2 vs. 7.25 on day 1) compared to the control yogurt. The novel gel yogurt exhibited superior rupture strength compared to yogurt with other hydrocolloids, such as gelatin and agar-agar, and similar brittleness to yogurt with gelatin. Microstructural analysis revealed an aggregated and compact protein network in the novel gel yogurt, analogous to the yogurt with gelatin. Sensory evaluations indicated no significant differences between the control and the novel gel yogurt. Therefore, the novel gelling agent studied can serve as a cost-effective alternative in yogurt production, compared to conventional hydrocolloids that are in short supply, in high demand, and expensive in the market.
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spelling doaj-art-b45fffcc080e40efb6b62f18cef508dc2025-08-20T03:16:43ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011413225210.3390/foods14132252Evaluating a Novel Hydrocolloid Alternative for Yogurt Production: Rheological, Microstructural, and Sensory PropertiesF. N. U. Akshit0Ting Mao1Shwetha Poojary2Venkata Chelikani3Maneesha S. Mohan4Alfred Dairy Science Laboratory, Department of Dairy and Food Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USAAlfred Dairy Science Laboratory, Department of Dairy and Food Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USADepartment of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New ZealandDepartment of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New ZealandAlfred Dairy Science Laboratory, Department of Dairy and Food Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USAThis study aimed to assess the viability of a new gelling agent, formed by a combination of disodium 5-guanylate and lactic acid, as a potential substitute for conventional hydrocolloids in yogurt production. Six different yogurt samples containing novel gel (combination of lactic acid and disodium 5-guanylate), disodium 5-guanylate, gelatin, agar-agar, lactic acid, and a control yogurt without any hydrocolloid or other additives, were studied. As expected, all the yogurt samples exhibited shear-thinning behavior. The novel gel yogurt, when compared to the control yogurt, displayed similar viscosity at a low shear rate of 4.5 s<sup>−1</sup> (mimicking the shearing during manual scooping with a spoon) and lower viscosity at a shear rate of 60.8 s<sup>−1</sup> (mimicking the agitation in the mouth). Notably, the novel gel yogurt demonstrated a lower flow behavior index (0.13 vs. 0.40 on day 1), reduced syneresis (23.37% vs. 33.75%), and had a higher consistency coefficient (9.2 vs. 7.25 on day 1) compared to the control yogurt. The novel gel yogurt exhibited superior rupture strength compared to yogurt with other hydrocolloids, such as gelatin and agar-agar, and similar brittleness to yogurt with gelatin. Microstructural analysis revealed an aggregated and compact protein network in the novel gel yogurt, analogous to the yogurt with gelatin. Sensory evaluations indicated no significant differences between the control and the novel gel yogurt. Therefore, the novel gelling agent studied can serve as a cost-effective alternative in yogurt production, compared to conventional hydrocolloids that are in short supply, in high demand, and expensive in the market.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2252hydrocolloidsviscositydisodium 5-guanylatesyneresismicrostructure
spellingShingle F. N. U. Akshit
Ting Mao
Shwetha Poojary
Venkata Chelikani
Maneesha S. Mohan
Evaluating a Novel Hydrocolloid Alternative for Yogurt Production: Rheological, Microstructural, and Sensory Properties
Foods
hydrocolloids
viscosity
disodium 5-guanylate
syneresis
microstructure
title Evaluating a Novel Hydrocolloid Alternative for Yogurt Production: Rheological, Microstructural, and Sensory Properties
title_full Evaluating a Novel Hydrocolloid Alternative for Yogurt Production: Rheological, Microstructural, and Sensory Properties
title_fullStr Evaluating a Novel Hydrocolloid Alternative for Yogurt Production: Rheological, Microstructural, and Sensory Properties
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating a Novel Hydrocolloid Alternative for Yogurt Production: Rheological, Microstructural, and Sensory Properties
title_short Evaluating a Novel Hydrocolloid Alternative for Yogurt Production: Rheological, Microstructural, and Sensory Properties
title_sort evaluating a novel hydrocolloid alternative for yogurt production rheological microstructural and sensory properties
topic hydrocolloids
viscosity
disodium 5-guanylate
syneresis
microstructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2252
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