The Effects of Sunflower Oil and Butter on Sensory Properties of a Granola Bar

Marcela Galvan

Department of Nutrition, Hospitality, and Human Services, Lamar University

NUTR 4347: Food Science

Kristina May

November 24, 2020

Abstract

Dietary fats contribute to

Less than 200 words

Keywords: Granola Bars, Butter, Sunflower Seed Oil, Dietary Fat,

Introduction

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The purpose of the study was to establish if sunflower oil is a preferred alternative for butter in a granola bar recipe based on color, outer texture, mouth feel, flavor, aftertaste, and overall acceptability.

Materials and Methods

On November 12, 2020, I entered the culinary kitchen and began by washing my hands. Then, I gathered both my wet and dry ingredients along with the equipment I needed. I prepared the oven by preheating it to 350° degrees.

I lined a 13×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper than sprayed with cooking spray from approximately 1 inch away. I used a large bowl for my wet ingredients. In the large bowl I added ½ cup of peanut butter, 1/3 cup of honey, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoons of butter, and 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract. I used a handheld beater to beat the ingredients for about 2 minutes until the mixture was smooth and creamy.

In a separate medium bowl, I mixed my dry ingredients. I added 3 ½ cups of old-fashioned oats, ½ cup of brown sugar, and salt. I stirred for about 30 seconds with a wire whisk just to mix them together. Then, I added the oat mixture from the medium bowl to the peanut butter mixture in the large bowl. I stirred for 1 minute to combine before I added 1/3 cup of peanut butter chips and 1/3 cup of mini chocolate chips. I did a final stir for 30 seconds before transferring the mixture to the previously prepared baking pan. Then I put on gloves to press the mixture into an even layer. I used the flat side of the stainless-steel chopper/scraper to ensure the entire product was even. I placed the mixing bowls, measuring spoons, and whisk in the sink to wash.

I repeated the process for the second recipe. I lined a 13×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper than sprayed with cooking spray from approximately 1 inch away. I used a large bowl for my wet ingredients. In the large bowl I added ½ cup of peanut butter, 1/3 cup of honey, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil, and 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract. I used a handheld beater to beat the ingredients for about 2 minutes until the mixture was smooth and creamy.

In a separate medium bowl I mixed my dry ingredients. I added 3 ½ cups of old-fashioned oats, ½ cup of brown sugar, and salt. I stirred for about 30 seconds with a wire whisk just to mix them together. Then, I added the oat mixture from the medium bowl to the peanut butter mixture in the large bowl. I stirred for 1 minute to combine before I added 1/3 cup of peanut butter chips and 1/3 cup of mini chocolate chips. I did a final stir for 30 seconds before transferring the mixture to the previously prepared baking pan. Then I put on gloves to press the mixture into an even layer. I used the flat side of the stainless-steel chopper/scraper to ensure the entire product was even. I placed the mixing bowls, measuring spoons, and whisk in the sink to wash.

To ensure I did not mix the two recipes I placed a label under the baking pan to the left with the butter recipe since I would be placing it on the top rack of the oven. I placed a label under the sunflower oil recipe and put it on the lower rack of the oven. Once the baking pans were in the oven, I started a timer for 14 minutes. I used the time to clean and sanitize my work station as well as wash my equipment. I placed a cooling rack on each of the baking pan labels. I also spread out all my labeled plates to be ready once the samples were cut.

When the timer finished, I turned the oven off and used an oven mit to grab the top baking pan first since it went in first. I placed it on the counter since I did not want the bottom baking pan to remain in the oven extra time while I brought the first one to my station. With the first pan out, I removed the second baking pan and walked it to my station to place it on the right cooling rack. I walked back to the oven and return to my station with the first baking pan than placed it on the left cooling rack. I allowed the bars to cool for 5 minutes. I trimmed the edges by ½ inch each side for both samples. After, I took a ruler and marked 4×2 rectangles with the stainless-steel chopper. I placed each of the 9 samples on an individual labeled clear plate. I repeated the process to trim and cut the other granola sample into 9 even samples.

Sensory Evaluation

I found my panelists by sending my invitation letter to the nutrition department at Lamar. Student volunteers after I received feedback regarding availability and any allergies. Once the samples were ready, I gathered 36 clear cups with 20 mL each. Since those were to cleanse the palate, I provided each panelist 12 of those cups along with a napkin and an 8-ounce red cup to spit when cleansing. I went to the atrium and greeted the judges as they arrived and directed them to their seat. I explained the sampling process and provided each judge with a scorecard. As the judges finished sampling, I collected their scorecard, thanked them, then dismissed them. After all panelists left I cleaned the area by discarding the cups, plates, and napkins.

Objective Evaluation

Sunflower Height 2 cm / 0.75 in

Butter height 1.5 cm / 0.6 in

Results

Conclusion

References

Appendix A

Granola Bars (Control)

Serving Size: 1 Bar

Number of Servings: 12 Bars

Ingredients:

½ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (Regular or Reduced Fat)

1/3 Cup Honey

1 Large Egg

2 Tbs Butter

1 ½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3 ½ cups old-fashioned oats

½ cup packed light brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup peanut butter chips

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 13×9-inch nonstick baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, honey, egg, butter and vanilla extract with a handheld beater until smooth and creamy.

In a separate medium bowl, stir together the oats, brown sugar and salt. Add the oat mixture to the peanut butter mixture and stir until well combined then stir in the peanut butter chips and mini chocolate chips.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan, pressing it into an even layer.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing the granola into bars and serving.

Appendix B

Granola Bars (Experiment)

Serving Size: 1 Bar

Number of Servings: 12 Bars

Ingredients:

½ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (Regular or Reduced Fat)

1/3 Cup Honey

1 Large Egg

2 Tbs Sunflower Oil

1 ½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3 ½ cups old-fashioned oats

½ cup packed light brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup peanut butter chips

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 13×9-inch nonstick baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, honey, egg, oil and vanilla extract with a handheld beater until smooth and creamy.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan, pressing it into an even layer.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing the granola into bars and serving.

Appendix C

Ingredient List

1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (Regular)

2/3 Cup Honey

2 Large Eggs

2 Tablespoons Butter

2 Tablespoon Sunflower Oil

3 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

7 Cups Old-fashioned oats

1 Cup Light brown sugar

1 Teaspoon Salt

2/3 Cup Peanut butter chips

2/3 Cup Mini chocolate chips

270cc Water

Appendix D

Equipment List

Oven

2; 13 x 9-inch Baking Pan

2 Large Mixing Bowl

2 Medium Mixing Bowl

2 Wire Whisk

2 Chef’s Knife

Stopwatch

1; 1 cup measuring cup

1; ½ cup measuring cup

1; 1/3 cup measuring cup

1; 1 tablespoon measuring spoon

1; 1 teaspoon measuring spoon

1; ½ teaspoon measuring spoon

Spatula

Ruler/Measuring Tape

Cooking Spray

3 clear plastic cups

9 green solo cups

18 clear plastic plates

9 napkins

1 clear pitcher

20 sticker labels

1 black sharpie

Appendix E

Invitation Letter

Dear Panelist,

Thank you for volunteering to participate in a food science experiment being conducted as part of a food science course that I am enrolled in at Lamar University. I ask that you arrive on November 12, 2020 at 1:00 PM. The experiment will take place in the atrium of the Nutrition, Hospitality, Human Services building located on the campus of Lamar University-Beaumont. Since you will be consuming a food or beverage item, please notify me if you have any food allergies or intolerance by emailing me at mgalvan5@lamar.edu by November 6, 2020. On the day of the experiment you are asked to refrain from eating or drinking anything other than water 1 hour before the time you arrive. Refrain from chewing gum, using breath mints, eating candy, using tobacco products (vape, smoke, chew) 20 minutes before you arrive. Please also refrain from using heavily scented body sprays, perfumes, and lotions the day of the evaluation. The experiment will take approximately 30 minutes of your time. Results of the study can be provided to you upon written request after the study has been completed. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Best Regards,

Marcela Galvan

Appendix F

Script

Good afternoon. My name is Marcela Galvan. I want to thank each of you for agreeing to participate in my food science experiment I am conducting as a requirement of a food science course I am taking at Lamar University. If you have had anything to eat or drink, other than water in the past hour please raise your hand. If you have any food allergies or intolerances, please raise your hand. Please follow me. Please have a seat. Today you will be tasting two different samples of a food item and then using the scorecard in front of you, you will rate each sample based on color, outer texture, mouth feel, flavor, aftertaste, and overall acceptability. I will bring in your first set of samples. You will drink the small sample of water from the clear 8oz cup provided, swish your mouth, and then spit that water into the waste cup which is the 8oz green solo cup. This is to cleanse your pallet before and after each sample. Once you have cleansed your pallet, begin evaluating the first sample. For example, you are asked to look at the color of the outside of the sample and evaluate the color by circling the number that best describes the color of that sample. Evaluate the first sample for all characteristics listed here. Once you have finished evaluating the first sample, cleanse your pallet and then begin evaluating the second sample. You will have 5 minutes to evaluate both samples. I will then remove the samples. We will repeat this process three times. You will sample and evaluate a total of 6 samples. Once you have evaluated all 6 samples, I will pick up your scorecard and you will be dismissed. It is important that you do not talk with one another during the experiment. Do you have any questions before we begin? We will now begin.

4961614119656 Judge

Scorecard

4949880106956 Date

Characteristic Sample

Color

1= Dislike Extremely; 2= Dislike very much; 3= Dislike Moderately; 4= Dislike slightly; 5= Neither like nor dislike; 6= Like Slightly; 7= Like Moderately; 8= Like Very much; 9= Like Extremely Outer Texture

1= Dislike Extremely; 2= Dislike very much; 3= Dislike Moderately; 4= Dislike slightly; 5= Neither like nor dislike; 6= Like Slightly; 7= Like Moderately; 8= Like Very much; 9= Like Extremely Flavor