Simone Mancini, Simona Mattioli, Simone Paolucci, Filippo Fratini, Alessandro Dal Bosco, Tiziano Tuccinardi, Gisella Paci
Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) (mealworm) larvae are one of the most promising insects for feed-food purposes. Mealworms are rich in several macro and micro nutritional elements and can be practically reared on side stream substrates. In this study, the effects of seven different cooking techniques were tested on the nutritional value of mealworms focusing the attention on protein digestibility, fatty acid (FA) profile, and oxidative status. Uncooked larvae (UC) were used as control and compared to two combinations of temperature/time in oven cooking (70°C for 30 min, OC70-30, 150°C for 10 min, OC150-10), two methods of frying (mealworms fried in sunflower oil as deep fry, DF, or pan fry, PF), microwaving (MW), boiling (in plastic bag under vacuum, BO), and steaming (ST)...
2021: Frontiers in Veterinary Science