Vacuum impregnation: Effect on food quality, application and use of novel techniques for improving its efficiency

Vacuum Impregnation (VI) act as promising method for rapidly introducing specific concentration solutions into food matrices using a hydrodynamic mechanism and deformation phenomenon to attain a product with specific tailored functional quality characteristics. VI facilitates rapid introduction of specific solutions into the food matrices. This technique allows efficient incorporation of bioactive compounds and nutritional components, meeting the rising consumer demand for functional foods. Furthermore, VI when combined with non-thermal techniques, opens up new avenues for preserving higher quality attributes and enhancing antimicrobial effects. The unique ability of VI to rapidly infuse specific solutions into food matrices, combined with the advantages of non-thermal processes, addresses the growing consumer demand for products enriched with bioactive ingredients. Hence, the present review aims to explore the potential impact of VI, coupled with novel techniques, on food quality, its practical applications, and the enhancement of process efficiency for large-scale industrial production.