Reduction of fat content during frying using dried egg white and fiber solutions

Producers of deep-fried foods seek new methods to lower the fat content of these foods. The effectiveness of edible films of proteins and carbohydrates and the addition of prefrying dips of egg white lower fat absorption. Common additions of chemicals to films called plasticizers allow them to improve distribution when coating a substrate and improve their water vapor permeability and mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of corn or oat fiber to an egg albumin solution will increase fat absorption inhibition that occurs in deep-fat frying compared to an egg albumin solution alone. Dipping chicken fritters in an egg white dip with no fiber present produced samples with the highest lipid reductions compared to the control. The addition of fiber to any of the dips did not produce a synergistic effect to reduce lipid absorption. The egg dip, 1%, and 2% fiber dip amounts were successful in reducing the lipid content compared to control, but not the 5% fiber dip amount. As the fiber dip concentration decreased for corn and oat fiber, lipid levels decreased. The addition of egg white, corn fiber, or oat fiber affected the color and texture of the fritters. Practical applications: Reducing the oil content of chicken fritters could provide lower fat alternatives to normal deep fried foods that still retain the desirable characteristics that full fat foods provide. If fat reduction below 35% calories from fat can be achieved, markets such as schools and healthcare that are currently restricted to these types of products could be opened.