Evaluation of Fat Uptake of Polysaccharide Coatings on Deep-Fat Fried Potato Chips by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

In the present investigation, potato slices of 3 cm diameter and 1.5 mm thickness with edible coating (1% Okra and 1% Okra + Carrageen polysaccharide coating solutions) and without any coating treatment (control samples) were fried in sunflower oil at temperatures from 170–180°C for 5 min. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of fried chips was recorded using fluorescence mode of the microscope. We observed gas cells and fat globules in the confocal laser scanning microscopy micrographs of fried chips. The results indicated that both 1% Okra and 1% Okra + Carrageen polysaccharide were effective in reducing the moisture loss and decreasing oil uptake (p ≤ 0.05), but we found the highest effect in those samples treated with 1% Okra + Carrageen polysaccharide coating. These results substantiate the application of edible coating with 1% Okra and 1% Okra + Carrageen polysaccharide to the potato chips resulting in better moisture retention capacity, eventually leading to chips with lower fat content.