Utilizing high-pressure homogenization for the production of fermented plant-protein yogurt alternatives with low and high oil content using potato protein isolate as a model

The potential of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) to allow the production of a fermented potato protein isolate-based yogurt alternative with low and high oil concentration was investigated. The yogurt alternatives containing different oil concentrations (1.5%, 3%, and 10%) were obtained by inoculating the homogenized (0.1 MPa, 30 MPa, and 200 MPa) emulsions. HPH reduced emulsion particle size (all oil levels) compared to the non-homogenized samples (0.1 MPa). The overall emulsion whiteness index increased after HPH treatment while the highest value was obtained for 200 MPa 10% oil, 76.01 ± 0.50, compared to 65.33 ± 2.05 obtained for 0.1 MPa 10% oil. The creaming velocity was decreased by HPH, e.g., for 3% oil from 10.70 ± 0.11 (0.1 MPa) to 0.59 ± 0.04 after 200 MPa. Microscopic images of gels from HPH treated emulsions revealed smaller oil droplets and narrower component distribution. This study further highlights the possibility of HPH technology to produce plant-protein-based yogurt alternatives with different oil concentrations. Industrial relevance: In recent years, the food industry has changed rapidly and has faced new consumer demands and global food trends. Consumers pay attention to food and its effect on their health, and the popularity of dairy alternatives with reduced-oil and, on the other hand, Greek-style yogurt analogs has grown. (Ultra) high-pressure homogenization ((U)HPH) is a continuously emerging technology that can potentially provide simultaneous homogenization and microbial inactivation and induce changes in solution physicochemical properties such as emulsion stabilization mainly by significantly reducing oil droplet size and improving interactions between emulsifiers and oil phase. By utilizing HPH, plant-based yogurt alternatives can be formed with a wide range of oil concentrations and similar texture profiles and water holding capacity, free of additional stabilizers and artificial emulsifiers. The results of this bottom-up approach study could be of great importance for considering the potential for scaling-up and future implementation of (U)HPH in the food industry to produce plant-based milk and yogurt alternatives with low and high oil content, having a clean label.