Functionality and physical properties of interesterified high oleic shortening structured with stearic acid

A zero-trans fat shortening was prepared by chemical interesterification (CI) of high oleic sunflower oil, fully hydrogenated canola oil, and fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSO) in a weight ratio of 70:17:13. The product was crystallized in a votator and tested by baking chewy brownie cookies. The CI process produced a fat with comparable plasticity, solid fat content profile, melting point and morphology as the commercial shortening, and was appropriate for use as a high stability shortening. Interestingly, the CI material was predominantly in the β polymorph, and did not seem to be influenced by the mechanical and cooling treatment. Moreover, small crystallites in the range of <5 μm were observed. Cookies containing 30% FHCO showed the same hardness, but a higher spread ratio than cookies made using a commercial shortening. The results of sensory analysis showed the same acceptability for the two types of cookies.