LAUSR

BACKGROUND In accordance with the market demand for healthier indulgent food products, the present study aimed to determine the viability of the industrial production of dark chocolate with microcapsules of high oleic peanut oil content. Microcapsules of high oleic peanut oil were added to a control formulation using variations of mixing time. RESULTS The chocolates presented a rheology characterized by a pseudoplastic behavior adjusted to the Casson model (r > 0.98) and calorimetric behavior indicating melting onset (21 °C), peak melting (32 °C) and melting end (41 °C); caramelization peak (183 °C); and carbonization peak (237 °C), being considered thermal stable. The mixing time and the amount of microcapsules added to the control chocolate did not significantly influence the flow limit (11.09 ± 1.73 Pa) or the physical characteristics of the chocolate: pH (6.74 ± 0.14), maximum particle size (0.019 ± 0.001 mm), water activity (0.358 ± 0.023) and brittleness (18.61 ± 3.74 N). However, the addition of microcapsules with a high oleic peanut oil content significantly increased the chocolate whiteness index, thixotropy and Casson's plastic viscosity, although it did not have a significant influence on the mixing time. CONCLUSION The products obtained have a desirable quality and physical properties, being suitable for industrial production. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.