Physicochemical properties of beef burger after partial incorporation of ethylcellulose oleogel instead of animal fat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties of beef burger after substitution of animal fat with the ethylcellulose (EC) oleogel. Therefore, sesame oil oleogels were prepared using EC in concentrations of 10%, and cooled at 25 °C. The fatty acid profile of EC oleogel compared with animal fat. Then, the EC oleogel was incorporated to hamburger at the 0, 25 and 50% instead of animal fat and color and textural properties as well as cooking loss, cooking shrinkage, fat absorption, and lipid oxidation of the beef burgers were evaluated. As an outcome, the EC oleogel contained high levels of linoleic and linolenic acids, while the palmitic and stearic acids were lower than the animal fats, and myristic acid was not detectable. Replacement of animal fat with EC oleogel upgraded the quality of final product by reducing cooking loss and fat absorption. Production of beef burger with EC oleogel decreased the oxidation process during frozen storage as well as cooking loss and fat absorption, and enhanced textural properties including chewiness and hardness. Improvement of nutritional and technological properties of hamburgers contained EC oleogel makes it a desirable candidate for animal fat substitution.