affron®eye, a natural extract of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) with colorant properties as novel replacer of saffron stigmas in culinary and food applications

Publication date: July 2018Source: International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, Volume 12Author(s): P. Almodóvar, M. Prodanov, O. Arruñada, A.M. Inarejos-GarcíaAbstractNatural color becomes the first sensory perception in food and improves consumers' acceptability. To this aim, the commercial saffron (Crocus sativus L.) extract affron®eye can be directly used in cold dishes due to the follow advantages: absence of microbial load, easily soluble in water and with homogeneous colorant properties due to the presence of the carotenoids crocins which are standardized in all batches by high performance liquid chromatography.In this work two different cold desserts were prepared, employing saffron stigmas or affron®eye to study the improvement of their sensory properties and final presentation. The cold recipe prepared with affron®eye showed significantly better taste (F = 6.1, p < 0.05) and acceptability by the consumers (F = 7.5, p < 0.05), compared to the recipe with saffron stigmas. The new affron®eye extract contributed to this improvement because it is easier and much more precise for dosage control, more safety (free of microorganisms), homogenizes sensory attributes, and therefore the consumer´s acceptability.
Source: International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science - Category: Food Science Source Type: research