This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cold plasma (0, 5, 10, or 15 min) on the techno-functional and sensory properties of whey dairy beverages added with xylooligosaccharide (XOS, 1.5% p/v). Untreated and pasteurized whey beverages were also evaluated. The products were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, XOS stability, rheological properties, and sensory characteristics. Cold plasma and pasteurized products presented lower color intensity (L*=87.4-87.9, a*=-0.24- -0.60, b*=2.41-5.19), reduced consistency (K = 4.31-42.21 mPa.sn and N = 0.57-0.95), and similar apparent viscosity, XOS chemical stability, and sensory characteristics compared with the untreated product. However, the cold plasma-treated beverages presented lower heat load indicators (hydroxymethylfurfural [HMF] values of 1.91-2.10 µmol/L and whey protein nitrogen index [WPNI] of 6.09-6.66 µmol/L) and a higher concentration of bioactive compounds (antioxidant activity [5.31-9.30%], and inhibition of ACE [14.17-22.53%], α-amylase [18.52-25.67%] and α-glucosidase [22.50-27.50%] activities) than the pasteurized product, being the effects more pronounced for the higher exposure times. Overall, cold plasma has important advantages for the processing of whey beverages added with XOS.
Keywords: Cold plasma; Whey dairy beverages; Xylooligosaccharide, quality parameters.
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