Characterization of volatile compounds in roasted plant-based patties packaged with different disposable lunchboxes

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Packaging

Background:

• Disposable food packaging is widely used but can impact food quality and safety.
• Conventional plastics raise environmental concerns, driving the search for sustainable alternatives.
• Understanding packaging material properties is crucial for maintaining food's sensory attributes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the microstructure and heat transfer properties of nine disposable lunchboxes.
• To assess the impact of these lunchboxes on the volatile compounds and sensory profile of roasted plant-based patties.
• To identify promising biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic food packaging.

Main Methods:

• Microstructural analysis (porosity, surface characteristics) of nine lunchbox materials.
• Measurement of thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat capacity.
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify and quantify volatile compounds in packaged patties.
• Odor activity value (OAV) analysis to assess sensory impact.

Main Results:

• Wheat straw lunchboxes (WSL) showed compact microstructures and favorable heat transfer properties compared to corn starch-based (CSL) and sugarcane-based (SUL) materials.
• WSL and gilded paper-based lunchboxes (GPL) had the lowest thermal conductivity.
• WSL packaging resulted in significantly lower levels of undesirable odor compounds and a sensory profile closer to freshly roasted patties, unlike plastic lunchboxes (PPL, PEL) which contained 2-methylfuran.

Conclusions:

• Wheat straw lunchboxes (WSL) are a promising biodegradable alternative, offering environmental benefits and superior sensory quality for roasted plant-based patties.
• Material microstructure and thermal properties significantly influence the preservation of food aroma.
• Further research should focus on WSL's long-term stability and industrial applicability.