Biology /Chapter 17: Fermentation: Desirable Effects Part 2

Chapter 17: Fermentation: Desirable Effects Part 2

Biology60 CardsCreated 21 days ago

These flashcards cover the basic chemical composition, environmental needs, and behavior of microorganisms, including their role in fermentation, optimal growth conditions, and their application in food products like bread and alcohol. Key focus is on how they function, survive, and contribute to food transformation.

What are microorganisms composed of chemically?

composed of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen

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Key Terms

Term
Definition

What are microorganisms composed of chemically?

composed of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen

What do microorganisms need to feed on?

  • C, O, N, H

| - Minerals and vitamins to aid with enzyme activity

Can microorganisms be dormant? In what conditions?

Some microorganisms can remain alive, but

| dormant, in dried conditions

What is a safe water activity for most food storage?

0.70 or lower

How can water activity be lowered?

by removing water, adding solutes, or by freezing

Hover to peek or log in to view all

What are the 3 pH levels that microorganisms can live in?

Minimum, preferred, maximum

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TermDefinition

What are microorganisms composed of chemically?

composed of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen

What do microorganisms need to feed on?

  • C, O, N, H

| - Minerals and vitamins to aid with enzyme activity

Can microorganisms be dormant? In what conditions?

Some microorganisms can remain alive, but

| dormant, in dried conditions

What is a safe water activity for most food storage?

0.70 or lower

How can water activity be lowered?

by removing water, adding solutes, or by freezing

What are the 3 pH levels that microorganisms can live in?

Minimum, preferred, maximum

What temperature do microorganisms prefer?

Modertate temp

Why don't microorganisms like freezing? And heating?

Freezing: slows enzyme activity and cell reproduction
Heating: can kill microorganisms

When do microorganisms die if temperature is raised?

at 5 C to 12 C above the temperature for maximum growth

Define fermentation.

enzymatically controlled change in a food product caused by the action of microorganisms

The changes from fermentation result from what?

– digestive enzymes released by the
microorganisms
– the release of by-products, such as carbon dioxide, acetic and lactic acids, and ethanol

What is the primary product of a microbial reaction?

Energy

What can by-products of microbial reactions change in a food?

color, texture, flavor, aroma, and pH

When does fermentation occur?

when nutrients broken down by digestive enzymes are absorbed by microorganisms for growth and energy

What is yeast needed in?

all yeast breads, alcoholic beverages, and vinegars

What is often used for yeast?

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

What is the main source of energy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae?

– Sugar is its main source of energy

| – It can utilize on honey, molasses, or corn syrup

What steps is yeast affected by in the bread-making process?

– Warm liquid activates yeast
– Mixing distributes yeast evenly
– Kneading the dough develops the gluten

  • Proofing

What does proofing allow? What does it release?

  • Allows the yeast to produce enzymes that break down sugars

| - Releasing alcohol and carbon dioxide

What happens during the bread making process?

– carbon dioxide becomes trapped in pockets throughout the dough, gluten stretches, and the dough rises
– the dough continues to rise during baking and a crust forms

What do bread products contain?

flour, yeast, salt, and water

What is wine?

fermented juice of plant products such as grapes, honey, various fruits and dandelions

What can be added to inhibit unwanted microbe growth?

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) or potassium metabisulfite

How are wine juices kept? For how long?

held in anaerobic conditions for up to 4 weeks in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks

When is wine fermentation complete?

when bubbling from CO2 production stops

How is wine aged?

in barrels or vats to slowly develop the characteristic flavors

Give examples of yeast fermentation in other alcoholic beverages.

– Beers are made from fermented barley
– Bourbon is made from corn
– Rum is made from sugar cane or molasses
– Brandy is distilled wine or fermented fruit juice
– Liqueurs have a brandy base with sugar and flavorings added

Name the 3 main types of bacterial fermentation.

1) Lactic acid fermentation
2) Proteolytic
3) Acetic acid fermentation

What is lactic acid fermentation?

Fermented foods produced by bacteria whose by-product is lactic acid
Produces the other by-products of acetic acid, formic acid and carbon dioxide

What does sauerkraut result from?

the lactic acid bacterial fermentation of cabbage submerged in brine, a salt and water solution

What does brine do in sauerkraut?

The salt controls water activity and pulls water with dissolved sugar and nutrients to the surface

What does bacteria do in sauerkraut?

Bacteria utilize the sugar and release carbon dioxide and lactic acid into the brine

How are cucumbers turned into pickles?

heating them in a spiced vinegar solution, refrigerating in an acid brine, or fermenting them with lactic acid bacteria

What does commercial pickling involve?

– washing the cucumbers in a chlorine solution

| – placing them in a brine with a pure culture of Lactobacillus (starter culture)

Which other foods can be pickled?

vegetables such as watermelon rinds, beets, cauliflower, okra, and onions, and even eggs

How can lactic acid fermentation be used in meats?

to make dry and semidry sausages

What does lactic acid fermentation provide in meats?

– Increased acid tenderizes the meat and adds a tart flavor

| – Fermentation, smoking, and drying prevent spoilage

How does cheese form curds?

Milk is pasteurized, then rennin and lactic acid bacteria are added to form curds

How is the whey separated from the curd?

– Curds are cut into small cubes and heated to help the whey separate from them
– Whey is drained off and collected for use as an additive in other processed foods

What can cheese curds turn into?

– mixed with cream to make cottage cheese

| – put in presses to squeeze out excess moisture for making aged cheese

What happens during aging or ripening of cheeses?

cheeses wrapped with wax are placed in curing rooms

What is responsible for the characteristic flavour of cheeses?

Different bacteria or molds

What does the sharpness of cheese refer to?

refers to the strength of flavor and aroma

How does the sharpness of cheeses develop?

Develops as cheese ages

Cheeses that age longer tend to what?

– have firmer consistency
– have more crumbly textures
– melt into sauces more readily

What by-products do molds create?

antibiotics, flavor compounds, and enzymes

Name some examples of fermented foods often used in Asian cuisine.

– soy sauce, a fermented mix of soybeans and wheat
– tempeh, a soybean cake of cooked, mashed soybeans pressed into blocks, inoculated with Rhizopus molds, and wrapped in banana leaves

What is two-step fermentation?

uses bacteria as well as fungi to produce the product

Describe the two-step fermentation process of cheeses?

lactic acid bacteria is needed to form the product, then other microorganisms develop the flavors and textures

Describe the two-step fermentation process of sourdough bread?

lactic acid bacteria ferments the product, and then a yeast starter proceeds to ferment the product

east releases alcohol as they break down sugars, what follows yeast fermentation?

Acetic acid fermentation

What does Acetobacter bacteria use as energy? What does it release?

  • Alcohol

| - Releases acetic acid

What is produced by acetic acid fermentation?

Vinegar

How is acetic acid fermentation used in baked goods?

produces candied citron from citron lemons

How is acetic acid fermentation used in chocolate?

turns cacao beans into chocolate

Name 2 benefits of fermentation.

  • Microorganisms help preserve some foods

| * Fermentation offers a wider range of food options

How do microorganisms help preserve some foods?

Fermented foods tend to have a low pH and can be stored for longer periods (especially at refrigerated temperatures)

What does the variability of nutritional changes in fermented foods depend on?

– microorganisms used
– other ingredients added
– impact of fermentation on bioavailability

The concentrations of which nutrients are higher in cheese than in milk?

Fat and calcium

At what pH are bacteria killed? At what pH are molds killed?


Bacteria: 4.6
Molds: 1.5