Acid-induced pea protein gels pretreated with media milling: Gelling properties and the formation mechanism

[Display omitted] •Media milling facilitated acid-induced pea protein gel formation.•The minimum gelation concentration of PPI pretreated by SMM was decreased from 9 % to 4 %.•SMM treatment improved the resistance to deformation of pea protein gel.•Reducing protein particle size to 180 nm increased gel strength. This study explored the effect of stirred media mill (SMM) processing on the acid-induced gelling properties of pea protein. Results showed that SMM treatment enhanced the gel strength from 75.06 g to 183.89 g and increased the water holding capacity from 46.64 % to 73.50 %. The minimum gelation concentration achieved for SMM-treated pea protein was 4 %, significantly lower than that of heat-pretreated pea protein (9 %). SMM decreased protein aggregate size from 104 μm to 180 nm. Microscopy analysis revealed that the small aggregates facilitated the formation of uniform gel networks with tight connections. Linear rheology indicated that small protein aggregates resulted in slower gelation rates with a higher Gʹ for the formed gels. The SMM-pretreated protein gel showed strain hardening, shear thinning behaviors, and satisfactory stability to withstand large-amplitude oscillatory shear. Overall, SMM emerges as a promising technology for producing protein gel products with strong mechanical attributes and customizable rheological properties.