Enzymatic glycerolysis converts vegetable oils into structural fats with the potential to replace palm oil in food products

Current trans fat replacement strategies provide food products with acceptable textural and sensory properties on a large scale, and at a reasonable price, but carry health and environmental burdens. Palm oil is used extensively because of its high solidity and functionality; however, increased production has led to deforestation throughout the world’s tropical regions. To reduce dependence on palm oil it is necessary to find a means of structuring a variety of readily available vegetable oils. Using cottonseed and peanut oils, among others, we show that enzymatic glycerolysis can structure liquid oils into solid fats through monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol production from their native triacylglycerols without the addition of saturated or hydrogenated fat, thus not altering fatty acid composition. Solid fat contents of cottonseed and peanut oils were increased from 8% to 29% and 9% to 30% at 5 °C, respectively, and 21% and 10% at 20 °C, respectively. Additionally, oil-binding capacity was enhanced significantly. These novel oils were used to produce margarine and peanut butter with similar textural properties to commercial products and, importantly, represent a healthy and sustainable means to replace hydrogenated or saturated fats. Palm oil has certain functional advantages as an ingredient in food products, including textual and sensory properties, and as a trans fat replacement. A well-established technique, enzymatic glycerolysis, is used here to structure liquid cottonseed and peanut oils into solid fats without altering fatty acid composition, which may advance the structure, nutrition and sustainability of commercial products