Effects of Processing Operations on Physicochemical Properties, Quality Formation and Nutritional Function of Food Products

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 2189

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Interests: starch; rice; functional ingredients

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite submissions for a Special Issue of Foods, entitled "Effects of Processing Operations on Physicochemical Properties, Quality Formation and Nutritional Function of Food Products".

Food processing significantly impacts product characteristics, safety, and health value. For this Special Issue, we seek original research and reviews elucidating how conventional and emerging technologies (thermal, non-thermal, fermentation, etc.) influence the following:

  • Physicochemical properties (texture, structure, stability, and functionality);
  • Quality attributes (sensory, shelf-life, and safety);
  • Nutritional and bioactive compound retention, bioavailability, and functionality.

We encourage studies addressing mechanistic insights, optimization strategies, and novel processing impacts on diverse food matrices. Submissions advancing sustainable, health-focused processing are welcome.

Dr. Chun-Sen Wu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • food processing
  • physicochemical properties
  • quality formation
  • nutrition function

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3731 KB  
Article
Influence of Drying Temperature on Quality Characteristics and Drying Kinetics of Siraitia grosvenorii Fruit
by Li Li, Ting Gan, Lihong Xie, Ping Yi, Yuhan Long, Min Huang, Dan Luo, Lan Zhang, Fenglai Lu, Jian Sun and Dianpeng Li
Foods 2026, 15(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15020335 - 16 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 746
Abstract
Siraitia grosvenorii fruit, a traditional medicinal and edible plant, undergoes significant alterations in quality and bioactive composition during the dehydration process. This study investigated the effects of hot-air drying at various temperatures on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and drying kinetics of S. [...] Read more.
Siraitia grosvenorii fruit, a traditional medicinal and edible plant, undergoes significant alterations in quality and bioactive composition during the dehydration process. This study investigated the effects of hot-air drying at various temperatures on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and drying kinetics of S. grosvenorii fruit. The drying process was terminated when fruit moisture content reached 15%, with corresponding drying durations of 420, 225, 144, 96, and 51 h at 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C and 80 °C, respectively. Among the ten mathematical models evaluated, the Midilli–Kucuk model provided the most accurate description of the drying kinetics of S. grosvenorii fruit. Quality analysis revealed that drying reduced the sugar/acid ratio, contents of mogrosides and ascorbic acid, while increasing total phenolic and flavonoid levels. Microstructural analysis revealed that higher temperatures increased drying rates by expanding the porosity of the pulp. Based on the retention of bioactive components and antioxidant capacity, 70 °C was identified as the optimal drying temperature. Overall, these findings suggest that oven-drying optimizes drying efficiency and ensures the retention of essential bioactive constituents in S. grosvenorii. Full article
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24 pages, 5533 KB  
Article
Impact of Cooking Method on the Physicochemical Properties, Digestibility, and Sensory and Flavor Profiles of Chinese Chestnuts
by Lijun Song, Man Xu, Kai Zhang, Gang Guo, Lixiang Huai, Yue Zhao, Taohong Wang, Leiqing Pan, Ruiguo Cui and Li Zhang
Foods 2025, 14(24), 4331; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14244331 - 16 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1081
Abstract
The impact of cooking method (stir frying, sugar stir-frying, baking, steaming, and boiling) on the physicochemical and sensory properties of Chinese chestnuts was evaluated. Dry heat treatment (stir frying, sugar stir-frying, and baking) increased hardness and chewiness because of water loss. Moist heat [...] Read more.
The impact of cooking method (stir frying, sugar stir-frying, baking, steaming, and boiling) on the physicochemical and sensory properties of Chinese chestnuts was evaluated. Dry heat treatment (stir frying, sugar stir-frying, and baking) increased hardness and chewiness because of water loss. Moist heat treatment (steaming and boiling) resulted in a softer texture and brighter color as a result of water absorption and starch gelatinization. Samples cooked with stir frying and boiling had a 50.82–54.17% reduction in resistant starch content. In contrast, the stir-frying, sugar stir-frying, and baking samples experienced a decrease of 37.16–47.18%. Concurrent changes in the glycemic index were observed. The polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were highest in the samples cooked using sugar stir-frying. A total of 34 volatile compounds were identified, but only 8 were key in the olfactory analysis (hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, 3-methylbutanal, ethyl 3-methylbutyrate, ethyl acetate, 2-pentanone, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, and 2-pentylfuran). At the same time, combined with sensory evaluation, sugar stir-frying can highlight the caramel and sweetness of chestnut; then baking can bring a strong aroma of nuts, and sugar stir-frying is a more popular method. Full article
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