Preparation of functional rice cake by using β-carotene-loaded emulsion powder

The purpose of this study was to apply a powdered β-carotene-loaded emulsion to a real food product, Korean traditional rice cakes (Garaedduk). β-Carotene was incorporated into the oil phase of a sodium caseinate-stabilized emulsion. Emulsion powder containing β-carotene was prepared using freeze-drying, and maltodextrin and gum arabic were used as wall materials. Oil/protein/maltodextrin weight ratios of 3:1:2 and 3:1:5 (core-to-wall ratios of 1:1 and 1:2) were used, and gum arabic was added by replacing the amount of maltodextrin for 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.5% w/w. Manufactured emulsion powders prepared with wall material at a core-to-wall ratio of 1:2 remained stable after reconstitution in terms of particle diameter and ζ-potential. The encapsulation efficiency of the emulsion powder increased by 90% in the presence of maltodextrin at a core-to-wall ratio of 1:2. Garaedduk containing the emulsion powder was then manufactured and it was confirmed that β-carotene was not degraded during the manufacturing process of Garaedduk by using HPLC. The results from this study may be useful for rational designing of functional foods with lipophilic bioactive materials.