Influence of intensive sugar substitutes on chocolate storage
The effect of the combination of the stevia (St) and sucralose (Su) sweeteners on the thermal properties, moisture content, texture and graying of chocolate that does not contain sucrose at different storage temperatures was studied. The study noted a close relationship between the microstructure and the highest percentage of chocolate graying. Samples with 100% Su and 50% St + 50% Su had a microstructure with channels through which solids and fat could more easily migrate to the surface, increasing the formation of fat and sugar in the surface layers. However, samples with 50% St + 50% Su and 75% St + 25% Su showed minimal fat bloom. Studies have shown that for samples containing 100% St and 75% St + 25% Su, the melting enthalpy had the smallest decrease with increasing storage temperature. In addition, the nonisothermal kinetics of crystallization was studied by applying the Avrami model. A sample of 75% St + 25% Su showed the highest values of activation energy, demonstrating the greatest stability in the studied temperature range from 7 to 30°C.