Phospholipase A Enzyme for Cake Volume and Texture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional cake recipes rely heavily on eggs and fat, which can lead to health concerns due to high cholesterol and calorie intake, and reducing their amounts results in compromised cake texture and volume.

Innovation Solution

The use of phospholipase A in cake production allows for a reduction of at least 5% of eggs and 10% of fat while maintaining desired cake properties such as crumb structure and volume, achieved by replacing egg protein with other protein sources and hydrocolloids and using phospholipase A to enhance water binding properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the amount of eggs is reduced in cake recipes, then health benefits are improved (lower cholesterol), but cake volume and batter stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecholesterol intakeVSAvoidcake volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Phospholipase A is introduced as an intermediary substance that modifies the phospholipid structure in eggs, converting phospholipids to lysophospholipids. This enzymatic modification enhances the emulsifying properties of the remaining egg content, allowing for reduced egg quantity while maintaining cake volume and batter stability through improved interfacial properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The chemical structure of phospholipids is changed by enzymatic hydrolysis, altering their physical and chemical properties. This parameter change in the egg composition (from intact phospholipids to lysophospholipids) enables the system to maintain functional performance with reduced egg content, resolving the contradiction between health benefits and cake quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If the amount of fat is reduced in cake recipes, then calorie content is reduced, but batter viscosity and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalorie contentVSAvoidbatter stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Phospholipase A acts as an intermediary that modifies the phospholipid emulsifiers in the system. By converting phospholipids to lysophospholipids, it creates a more effective emulsifying system that can maintain batter stability and viscosity with reduced fat content, as the modified phospholipids provide superior interfacial protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a composite emulsifying system where lysophospholipids (produced by phospholipase A action) work synergistically with other cake ingredients to provide stable emulsion formation. This composite approach compensates for reduced fat content while maintaining or improving batter stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the amount of eggs is reduced in cake recipes, then health benefits are improved, but cake texture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecholesterol intakeVSAvoidcake texture
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The enzymatic modification of phospholipids to lysophospholipids changes the physical and chemical parameters of the egg components. This alteration improves the emulsifying efficiency and protein functionality, enabling the maintenance of cake texture quality even with reduced egg content, thus resolving the contradiction between health benefits and textural properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Phospholipase A enables significant reduction in egg and fat content while maintaining or improving cake properties like batter viscosity, crumb softness, and shelf life, resulting in cakes with improved texture and volume comparable to those made with full amounts of eggs and fat.

Implementation Method 1

The LPLP has been prepared from phospholipoprotein for instance from egg yolk by the action of a phospholipase A

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

phospholipase A enables significant reduction in egg and fat content

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme: Enzyme

Implementation Method 3

using phospholipase A to enhance water binding properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2476315B1Use of a phospholipase A in the production of cake
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 DSM IP ASSETS BV

AI summary

The invention relates to the use of a phospholipase A in the production of cake to improve at least one of the properties selected from the group consisting of: (i) batter viscosity, (ii) specific density, (iii) initial crumb softness, (iv) crumb pore homogeneity, (v) crumb pore diameter, (vi) crumb softness upon storage, (vii) shelf life and/or (viii) cake volume, wherein calcium is added during pre-incubation or during the preparation of the batter. The invention also relates to the use of a phospholipase A in the production of cake to enable reduction of the amount of eggs and/or fat used in the recipe.