ULTRASON ÖN İŞLEM UYGULAMASININ DERİN YAĞDA KIZARTILMIŞ TAVUK ŞNİTZELLERİN YAĞ EMİLİMİNE VE KALİTESİNE ETKİSİ

Although deep-fried products are enjoyed by consumers of different age groups, they contain large amounts of oil, which affects product quality and cannot fail to meet the demand for a healthy diet. In this study, the effect of ultrasound pretreatment on the oil absorption and quality of deep-fried chicken schnitzels was investigated. For this purpose, chicken schnitzel samples were subjected to ultrasound pretreatment at different amplitudes (32 and 64%) and times (10, 20, and 30 min) and then deep-fried at 180 °C. Ultrasound pretreatment improved the crispness by reducing the hardness of schnitzel samples and also reduced oil absorption by 36-53%. According to the findings obtained from SEM analysis, ultrasound pretreatment caused collapses and deformations in the microstructure of the schnitzel samples, leading to the formation of many microscopic channels. Also, ultrasound pretreatment kept the original sensory properties of the schnitzel samples. These results show that ultrasound pretreatment has greatly improved the quality of chicken schnitzels.