Fructans with different degrees of polymerization and their performance as carrier matrices of spray dried blue...

Inulin-type fructans with different degrees of polymerization (DPs) were used as wall materials for the blue colorant produced from the crosslinking between genipin and milk proteins. The impact of using fructooligosaccharides (FOS) with DP = 5 and inulins with DP ≥ 10 (GR-In) and DP ≥ 23 (HP-In) on the physical (microstructure, size, water activity, wettability, solubility, water adsorption, glass transition temperature, and color), chemical (free genipin retention and moisture), and technological (colorant power, pH stability, and thermal stability) properties of the powdered blue colorant was examined. Inulins were more efficient carriers as seen from the physical characteristics of the microparticles. FOS and GR-In promoted higher retention of free genipin than HP-In. Additionally, their lower DP influenced the rehydration proprieties as well as the color intensity and colorant power. The DP did not affect the physical stability of the colorant at different pH conditions or at high temperature. Our findings demonstrated that the DP of the fructan exhibited a strong impact on the blue intensity of the samples and also their rehydration capacity.