Air frying pretreatment and the recovery of lipophilic sinapates from the oil fraction of mustard samples.

Roasting of mustard seeds prior to oil extraction is a well-documented unit operation essential to produce canolol and other lipophilic sinapates. This study investigated the effectiveness of air frying as a seed roasting treatment operation for enhancing the recovery of lipophilic sinapates from various mustard samples and fractions/products. Air frying of seeds, powder, cake, bran, and flour from different mustard varieties was carried out at temperature-time combinations of 160, 170, and 180°C for 5, 10, 15, and 20 min, respectively. Oil was extracted using the Soxtec method. Lipophilic sinapates were extracted from the oil using equal volumes of hexane to methanol 70% (v/v) and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the oils were also evaluated. The results showed a time-temperature dependency for the recovery of major oil-soluble sinapates in all mustard samples and fractions. The optimum air frying condition 180°C for 15 min produced the maximum yield of canolol as well as other unidentified oil-soluble sinapates (retention time (RT)-7.7, RT-11.50, RT-14.95, and RT-16.24 min). The oil from lower grade yellow mustard seeds (LGYMS) roasted at 180°C for 20 mins specifically had the highest TPC (3402.22 ± 58.79 mg GAE/g oil), while LGYMS oils generally showed better antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation) but were lower in metal ion chelating capacity. This information would be beneficial to the oil industry because air frying generated valuable canolol and other antioxidant lipophilic sinapates from mustard varieties and their fractions. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A major limitation in the application of natural extracts in vegetable oils is the poor lipophilic nature of phenolic compounds. This study employed a new thermal treatment (air frying) in the recovery of canolol and other lipophilic antioxidants. Such treatments can enrich mustard-based ingredients with canolol and other lipophilic antioxidants for domestic and industrial applications.