Everything about Rancidification totally explained
Rancidification is the decomposition of
fats,
oils and other
lipids by
hydrolysis or
oxidation, or both. Hydrolysis will split
fatty acid chains away from the
glycerol backbone in
glycerides. These free fatty acids can then undergo further
auto-oxidation. Oxidation primarily occurs with
unsaturated fats by a
free radical-mediated process. These chemical processes can generate highly reactive molecules in rancid foods and oils, which are responsible for producing unpleasant and noxious odors and flavors. These chemical processes may also destroy
nutrients in food. Under some conditions, rancidity, and the destruction of
vitamins, occurs very quickly.
Antioxidants are often added to fat-containing foods in order to retard the development of rancidity due to oxidation. Natural anti-oxidants include
flavonoids,
polyphenols,
ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and
tocopherols (vitamin E). Synthetic antioxidants include
butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA),
butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT),
propyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate also known as
propyl gallate and
ethoxyquin. The natural antioxidants tend to be short-lived, so synthetic antioxidants are used when a longer shelf-life is preferred. The effectiveness of water-soluble antioxidants is limited in preventing direct oxidation within fats, but is valuable in intercepting free-
radicals that travel through the watery parts of foods. A combination of water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants is ideal, usually in the ratio of fat to water.
In addition, rancidification can be decreased, but not completely eliminated, by storing fats and oils in a cool, dark place with little exposure to oxygen or free-radicals, since heat and light accelerate the rate of reaction of fats with oxygen.
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