Evaluating high oleic soybean oil oleogels as shortening replacements: Impact on cookie dough, cookie attributes, and oxidative stability

In this study, we explored the potential of oleogels to serve as a substitute for traditional shortening throughout the entire cookie production process. Specifically, oleogel was prepared using expeller-pressed high oleic soybean oil (EPHOSO) with 10 wt% of either rice bran wax (RBX) or monoacylglycerol (MAG) to replace shortening in cookie making. Rapid Visco Analyzer and Farinograph were used to thoroughly assess the impact of replacing shortening with oleogels on the qualities of cookie dough. The results demonstrated the efficacy of MAG oleogel in replicating the attributes of traditional shortening in cookie doughs, in terms of water absorption, dough consistency, and dough stability. The overall quality of cookies prepared with oleogels was comparable to the ones prepared with shortening. Additionally, the oxidative stability indicated the remarkable advantage of EPHOSO-based oleogels, which displayed an elevated resistance to oxidative processes compared to its liquid form. Furthermore, cookies prepared with MAG oleogel exhibited prolonged oxidative stability than those prepared with shortening. Overall, the results underscore the potential of EPHOSO oleogels, particularly those incorporated with MAG, could enhance the oxidative stability of cookies without diminishing the physicochemical qualities of the end product.