Inulin as a fat-reduction ingredient in chicken frankfurters with a reduced level of sodium - technological properties and consumer acceptance

Abstract

Cooked sausages (frankfurters) are one of the most popular meat products in Serbia and the world. However, high contents of saturated fatty acids and sodium, along with the lack of complex carbohydrates, such as dietary fibers, contribute to the unfavorable health perception of these products. In today's market, a wide variety of additives and substitutes are being used as a replacement for animal fat and sodium in meat products that have little to no impact on processing loss and/or the sensory quality of the final product. Research in this field usually goes toward partial or complete fat replacement with different hydrocolloids or vegetable oils, while KCl is generally recommended for partial replacement of NaCl. However, there is limited data regarding frankfurters that have reduced contents of fats and sodium, along with reduced caloric value with additional prebiotics function. The results of this paper suggest that half of the pork backfat and a third of the NaCl could be replaced in chicken frankfurters with inulin gel and potassium salt to improve their nutritive characteristics and to obtain a product that would have characteristics of functional food. The experimental formulation (INK+) analysis showed characteristical traits for this group of meat products in terms of technological quality and chemical composition and received high sensory evaluation scores for taste, odor, texture, and juiciness. The improved chicken frankfurter group has also shown exceptional nutritional value, considering that it contains a significantly reduced fat content (the main contributor to the caloric value of the final product) and prebiotic function (originating from inulin).