Physical and techno-functional properties of a common bean protein concentrate compared to commercial legume ingredients for the plant-based market

The development of alternative sources of protein ingredients is in the hotspot, as the plant-based food market has enormously grown worldwide in the last decade. The present study aims to evaluate the physical and techno-functional properties of commercial protein ingredients from soybeans, peas, and fava beans and compare them to in-house developed flour and protein concentrate from common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris Pinto Group) the main bean variety produced in Brazil. All ingredients presented a V-type curve for solubility with higher values above pH 7.0. Pea protein concentrate was the most thermal-stable ingredient (152.96 degrees C), while soy protein isolate presented the highest water holding capacity (4.52 g/g) and emulsifying capacity (19.39 m2/g), although the common bean concentrate was able to keep the emulsion stable for the longest period (21.26 min). Common bean concentrate had the smallest particle size, with more than 90% of them being smaller than 9.82 mu m and it also stood up in terms of foaming capacity (111%), together with the fava bean concentrate (93%). All in-gredients presented a stable foam up to 60 min. Fava bean concentrate presented the least gelling concentration (12%) and the highest oil holding capacity (2.84 g/g). Both common bean concentrate and flour presented physical and techno-functional properties similar to other commercial ingredients and can be considered alternative sources of ingredients for the plant-based food market.