Chapter 10: Lipids: Nature's Flavour Enhancers Flashcards
What elements do lipids contain?
C, H, O
Name the 3 types of lipids.
- Triglycerides
- Phospholipids
- Sterols
What are the 2 basic parts of glycerides?
Glycerol molecule and fatty acid(s)
What is the base of a glyceride?
Glycerol molecule with 3 hydroxyl groups that readily react with other compounds
What are fatty acids?
Carbon chains with a carboxyl group (COOH) at one end
How will the glycerol and the fatty acids react? What will it form? What are their charges? How will they change?
Carboxyl group of a fatty acid will react with the hydroxyl group of a glycerol producing a lipid and water
They are both charged (COOH+, OH-) and polar, but will become nonpolar after combining
Which glycerides are partially soluble in water? What are they used for?
Mono and diglycerides are partially soluble in water and soluble in fat
They are added to processed foods to keep mixtures of water and fats stable (emulsion)
What are phospholipids made of?
A glycerol base + 2 fatty acids (diglyceride) + phosphorus-containing acid attached
What part of the phospholipid dissolves in fat? What dissolves in water?
Fatty acid dissolves in fat (nonpolar)
Phosphorus-containing acid dissolves in water (polar)
Name 2 functions of phospholipid
- Part of cell membranes, help transport fats in and out of cells (phospholipid bilayer)
- Help fats stay mixed in water-based solutions (emulsifying agents)
Name some examples of sterols
Vitamin D, steroid hormones, cholesterol
What’s the first consideration when categorizing lipids based on molecular structure?
How saturated the carbon chains are with Hatoms (0, 1 or many double bonds)
What are saturated fatty acids?
Fatty acids that have max nb of H atoms (no double bonds)
What are unsaturated fatty acids?
Do not have the max number of H atoms (double bonds present)
Name monounsaturated fatty acid sources.
Olive and canola oils, almonds, walnuts
Name polyunsaturated fatty acid sources.
Safflower, sunflower and corn oils
What determines the temperature at which a lipid will liquify?
The number of carbon and hydrogen atoms
What lowers the temperature at which a lipid becomes solid?
Double bonds
Define the melting point of a lipid.
The temperature at which all the different fats and oils it contains are liquid
Define hydrogenation.
The process of adding hydrogen atoms to an unsaturated lipid to increase its saturation levels
Describe the hydrogenation process
- H is bubbled through liquid oil in the presence of a nickel catalyst
- Double bonds in the fatty acid chain break and pick up extra H atoms
Name 3 advantages to hydrogenation.
- Longer shelf life than oil or lard (less oxidation)
- Greater stability and lower production cost than lard
- Faster dissolving and setting properties in chocolate production
What are milkfats?
Contain short chain fatty acids and come from cows, goats and sheep
What are lauric acids?
Lipids found in the oils of fruits and seeds from tropical palm trees, low melting point, most saturated of the oils found in plants
What are vegetable butters?
Come from seeds of tropical plants (ex: cocoa butter)
Name sources of oleic-linoleic acids.
Corn, peanuts, sunflowers, olives, cottonseed: largest group of triglycerides and contain less than 20% saturated fatty acids
Name sources of linolenic acids.
Soybeans, wheat germ
What kind of lipid requires refrigeration?
Linolenic acids
What is marbling?
More marbling = more animal fat
High marbling = good quality cut
Marbling is an indicator of flavour and tenderness and higher fat content
Define marine oils.
Unsaturated oils from fish
Why do lipids melt and solidify over a temperature range?
Because of the mixture of fatty acids
Define solidification point.
Temperature at which all lipids in a mixture are in a solid state
What influences the melting point?
The more saturated the fatty acid and the longer the length of the carbon chain, the higher the melting point
Why don’t fats mix with water?
Since they are nonpolar and water is polar.
Nonpolar: equal or balanced sharing of electrons
Define auto-oxidation.
Complex chain reaction that starts when lipids are exposed to oxygen and results in deterioration
Define rancidity.
Form of food spoilage that poses no short term health risk
How can rancidity be prevented?
Vacuum sealing (removing O or replaced with N or CO2) or adding antioxidants (interact with O before the lipids do)
Name the 6 lipid functions in food preparation.
1) Lipids transfer heat quickly, evenly, and at high T
2) Lipids tenderize baked products
3) Lipids aerate batters
4) Lipids enhance flavours of other foods
5) Lipids lubricate food components
6) Lipids serve as liquids in emulsions
Define smoke point.
T at which fatty acids break apart and produce smoke
Define flash point.
T at which lipids will flame (grease fire), cannot put out with water
What determinates flakiness in baked products?
fat to flour ratio
What causes chewiness and toughness in baked products?
Fats shorten flour’s protein strands (which causes chewiness and toughness)
What kind of lipid works best for biscuits, pies, and puff pastry?
With high melting point (solid fats - butter, regular margarine, lard, shortening)
What can be used for quick mix batters?
Oils
What do saturated fats form when beaten?
Allow tiny air pockets to form when beaten
How can you aerate a cake batter?
Creaming fat and sugar together
Name some common seasoning and moistening lipids.
Butter, margarine, mayonnaise
Why do lipids help flavour?
Fats dissolve and disperse flavour compounds
Name flavourless oils.
Cottonseed, vegetable shortening, soybean, canola
Name 2 ways lipids can make food more moist.
- Greasy texture feels slick and smooth, making foods seem moister
- Spreads like butter, margarine and mayonnaise make sandwiches seem moister without the soggy bread
Define an emulsion.
A mixture of a lipid and a H2O based liquid
What can stabilize emulsions?
Phospholipids because they have a polar end that attracts water and a nonpolar end that attracts the lipid
Name examples of emulsions.
Butter, margarine, mayonnaise, bottled salad dressings
Name the 9 functions of lipids in the body.
- Provide a concentrated source of E
- Give a longer feeling of fullness due to digestion time
- Help regulate body temperature
- Provide an energy reserve from lipids stored in adipose tissue
- Protect vital organs from injury
- Participate in cell production
- Transport vitamins A, D, E, and K
- Produce hormones, vitamins, and other secretions
- Provide essential fatty acids
Name the 2 essential fatty acids. What can they become in the body?
- Linoleic acid, can become Omega-6
- Linolenic acid, can become Omega-3
Give examples of linoleic acid (Omega-6).
Corn, cottonseed, and soybean oils, as well as chicken
Give examples of linolenic acid (Omega-3).
Canola and soybean oils, walnuts and fish
What are the benefits of Omega-3s?
May slow the growth of plaque in arteries
How much fish should we have to eat? What should we look out for?
8 ounces or more, we have to be careful for mercury
Describe three ways lipids differ from carbohydrates.
- Lipids are not polymers.
- They do not provide structure to food products.
- They cannot be dissolved in water.
Name the saturated fatty acids found in butter and beef fat.
Butter: butyric acid
Beef fat: stearic acid
What do double bonds create in the fatty acid chain?
A bend, making it tough to pack together tightly
Why do trans fatty acids solidify at lower temperatures?
Because their trans confirmation (no bend) makes them linear
Why do marine oils spoil or develop off flavours and odours very quickly?
The high degree of unsaturated, must be eaten or frozen
List the seven main groups of triglycerides.
1) Milkfats
2) Lauric acids
3) Vegetable butters
4) Oleic-linoleic acids
5) Linolenic acid
6) Animal fats
7) Marine oils
Identify three physical characteristics of lipids that affect the way lipids perform in food products.
1) Differing Melting and Solidification Points
2) Nonpolar Molecules
3) Tendency to Deteriorate
Why don’t lipids have specific melting points?
Because most lipids are mixtures of different kinds of fatty acids. Since each fatty acid has a different melting point, the lipids in a mixture will melt at different temperatures.
What is more dense: water or lipids?
Lipids are less dense that the water due to the shape of the fatty acid chain that creates space between the parts of the molecule - oil floats on water
What must you add to mix oil and vinegar?
An emulsifier
Why are unsaturated oils more susceptible to auto-oxidation than saturated fats?
Because unsaturated oils contain double bonds, which are more likely to react than single bonds
Name some important dietary antioxidants.
Vitamins A,C, E
What characteristic makes lipids get hot enough to brown food and make the exterior crisp?
The temperature of lipids will continue to increase as heat is added, unlike water
What is the smoke point of lard?
185oC
What is the usual flash point?
315oC
What temperatures should deep frying occur at?
Between 175 (or else soggy) and 205 oC (or else outside burnt inside raw)
Why should you let deep-frying batter sit for 20 to 30 minutes?
To allow the starch in the batter to bind to the food
Should you add salt when deep frying?
No, since it pulls water to the surface of the food (increase splattering), also lowers the smoke point of the oil and will reduce the time the oil can be used
How do lipids tenderize baked goods like cakes, pancakes, muffins, and waffles?
Fats aid in giving these products a fluffy, moist, texture. The separating of the flour keeps the products tender.
Can oils replace solid fats in most cake recipes?
No, oils cannot provide the structure needed to trap air, which will result in a grainier texture
Why is it important to time the creaming step?
Because beating increases friction, it increases the batter temperature. If the temp goes too high, the fat will melt and the trapped air will be lost. This results in a crumbly, grainy texture
Can one stick of whipped butter replace one stick of butter?
No, since the whipped stick just has extra volume due to trapped air. They are good to help lower fat in the diet though
Name some examples of emulsifying agents in food.
Lecithin (phospholipid) found in egg yolk
Butter, milk, and bottled salad dressings
Name some benefits of EPA and DHA.
Strengthen brain-cell membranes improving cell-to-cell communication. They may also reduce joint inflammation and prevent heartbeat irregularities and mental decline.
Name the 2 roles of cholesterol.
1) Used to produce hormones
2) Build cell membranes
What causes atherosclerosis?
- Too much cholesterol in the blood
- Lipid and cholesterol deposits on artery walls (plaque)
- Rough, rigid, narrow arteries = atherosclerosis, high blood pressure + heart attacks/strokes
What is an optimal level for LDL? HDL?
LDL: Less than 100mg/dL
HDL: more than 40mg/dL (men) and 50mg/dL (women)
Where is cholesterol found?
ONLY in animal sources: meats, dairy products, egg yolks
Why are Mediterranean diets praised?
- Very low levels of saturated fat (olive oil)
- High number of MUFAs
What do PUFAs lower? MUFAs?
PUFA: lowers LDL and HDL
MUFA: lowers LDL, without lowering HDL
Name the 2 disadvantages of olive oil.
1) Distinctive flavour
2) Low smoke point
Where is cholesterol found?
only in animal products
What is atherosclerosis?
Excess blood cholesterol leads to plaque buildup in arteries
How do you keep LDL and HDL levels healthy?
- Reduce intake of saturated fat and cholesterol
- Regular exercise
- Maintain healthy weight
- Read food labels: limit trans, sat fats and added salt and sugar
What are the dietary recommendations to reduce your risk of heart disease?
Fat: 20-35% daily calories
Mostly from PUFAs and MUFAs
Name the 2 functions of cholesterol.
- Produce hormones
- Build cell membranes
How is cholesterol transported?
Lipoproteins
Which lipoprotein is healthy? Which is atherogenic?
Healthy: HDL
Not healthy: LDL
What does LDL do?
carry cholesterol to the liver
What does HDL do?
find unneeded cholesterol and return it to the liver