Freeze–thaw stability of pickering emulsions stabilized by SPI-chitosan and its application in frozen pork patties

This study investigated the freeze-thaw (F-T) stability of Pickering emulsions (PEs) prepared from soy protein isolate (SPI) and chitosan (CH), and their application in frozen pork patties. SPI-CH stabilized PEs were prepared at CH concentrations of 0, 0.5 %, 1 %, 1.5 %, and 2 %. The F-T stability of PEs was evaluated through measuring the creaming index, particle size distribution, ζ-potential, and observing the microstructure. Results showed that PEs exhibited optimal F-T stability when the CH concentration reached 1.5 %. After three F-T cycles, the creaming index was minimized, decreasing by 54.3 % compared to the control group. The droplet size distribution became single-peaked and minimized, effectively enhancing emulsion stability. Incorporating SPI-CH stabilized PEs into frozen pork patties significantly improved product quality. Patties containing 6 % PEs performed best, showing improved water-holding capacity with the lowest thawing loss (5.8 %). They also maintained better color stability and exhibited a more desirable texture due to restricted water migration. This research provides a strong foundation for developing food-grade Pickering particles and improving the quality of frozen meat products. Future studies should further explore the potential applications of these particles in a wider range of frozen foods.