Fabrication, characterization and application of Pickering emulsion gels stabilized by defatted grape seed powder

The feasibility of defatted grape seed powder (DGSP) stabilizing Pickering emulsion gels as butter substitute was investigated. The Pickering emulsion gel was constructed using DGSP through high-speed homogenization, and the effects of particle concentration (c) and oil-phase (Medium chain triglyceride) volume fraction (φ) on its structure and properties were investigated. Its application as a butter substitute was also evaluated. The results showed that DGSP had various particle shapes, a wide particle size distribution (3–130 μm), and a three-phase contact angle of 128.9 ± 2.3°. The O/W Pickering emulsion gels with φ ≥ 60% could be obtained at c ≥ 2%. The droplet diameter was negatively correlated with c and positively correlated with φ, while the gel strength was positively related to c and φ. The resulting emulsion gel demonstrated solid-like viscoelastic behavior and pseudoplasticity, and had the potential to serve as a butter substitute. The results can promote the application of grape seeds in food.