Performance of palm-based fat blends with a low saturated fat content in puff pastry

Four fat blends based on palm fractions in combination with high oleic sunflower oil (HOSF) with a relatively low saturated fatty acid content (29.2 ± 0.85%, i.e. less than 50% of that of butter) were prepared. The saturated fat was located in different TAG structures in each blend. Principal saturated TAG were derived from palm stearin (POs, containing tripalmitoyl glycerol—PPP), palm mid‐fraction (PMF, containing 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl glycerol—POP) and interesterified PMF (inPMF, containing PPP, POP and rac‐1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐3‐oleoyl glycerol—PPO). Thus, in blend 1, composed of POs and HOSF, the saturates resided principally in PPP. In blend 2, composed of POs, PMF and HOSF, the principal saturate‐containing TAG were PPP and POP. Blend 3, composed of inPMF and HOSF, was similar to blend 2 except that the disaturated TAG comprised a 2:1 mixture of PPO:POP. Finally, blend 4, a mixture of PMF and HOSF, had saturates present mainly as POP. The physical properties and the functionality of blends, as shortenings for puff pastry laminated in a warm bakery environment (20–24°C), were compared with each other, and with butter. Puff pastry prepared with blend 1 (POs:HOSF 29:71) and blend 4 (PMF:HOSF 41:59), was very hard; blend 2 (POs:PMF:HOSF 13:19:68) was most similar to butter in the compressibility of the baked product and it performed well in an independent baking trial; blend 3 (inPMF:HOSF 40:60) gave a product that required a higher force for compression than butter. The melting profile of fat blends and butter by DSC.