Chapter 17: Fermentation: Desirable Effects Part 2
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
Key Terms
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
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Term | Definition |
---|---|
What are microorganisms composed of chemically? | composed of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen |
What do microorganisms need to feed on? |
| - 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 |
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 |
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
|
What does proofing allow? What does it release? |
| - 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 |
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 |
Name the 3 main types of bacterial fermentation. | 1) Lactic acid fermentation |
What is lactic acid fermentation? | Fermented foods produced by bacteria whose by-product is lactic acid |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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? |
| - 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. |
| * 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 |
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 |