Control of crystallization of Fats and Oils is important in many food products, including

margarine, chocolate, butter, and shortenings.

In these products, the aim is to produce the appropriate number and size distribution of fat crystals in
the correct polymorphic form (i.e. type of crystal) because this solid fat crystalline phase plays a large
role in the product properties as appearance, texture, spreadability, and functionality. Its not just
about the amount of fat crystals but it is also about the type of fat crystals.

Due to the complex composition of most natural fats, our understanding of fat crystallization and its
application remains a challenge.
Composition of Fats and Oils
Fats are made up primarily of TriAcylGlycerols (TAGs), approximately 98%, with the remainder of the
fat being more polar lipids like DiacylGlycerols (DAGs), MonoacylGlycerols (MAGs), Free Fatty Acids
(FFAs), phospholipids, glycolipids, sterols, and other minor components. In refined fats, these minor
lipids are much lower in concentration than in unrefined fats.

Although the TAGs form the main crystalline phase, the minor components, or impurities, can often
play a large role in how crystallization occurs and crystallization may be substantially different in a
refined oil than in the unrefined starting material.


TAGs
TAGs are composed of three fatty acids arranged on a glycerol molecule, and with variations in chain
length and degree of saturation of the fatty acids, a wide range of components is possible. This range
of composition leads to complexities in crystallization. Knowledge about the detailed structures of the
triglycerides present in fats and oils is important because they define some of the physical
characteristics of the oil. The melting points of triglycerides are dependent on the structures and
position of the fatty acids on the glycerol backbone. They also affect the crystallization behavior of the
oil.

Palm oil is composed of about 40 different types of TAGs. However, there are three important types of
Triglycerides (e.g. POP, PPP and POO for the experts). The semisolid nature of palm oil for instance at
room temperature has been attributed to the presence of the POP. Oil modifications process can lead
to a product richer in POO (Palm Olein) and a product richer in PPP (Palm Stearin).
Complex Crystallization Process
The crystallization process is divided into nucleation and crystal growth phases. During cooling a
crystalline nucleus forms and, it begins to grow by incorporating other molecules. Crystallization
kinetics has a profound influence on fats final structures and is intrinsically related to their rheological
and plasticity properties.


Fats tendency to crystallize is of fundamental concern to processing techniques. Triacylglycerols
generally crystallize initially into the polymorphic forms, which then transforms to the and/or
forms which are more stable. This polymorphic transformation is an irreversible process from the less
stable to the more stable form, and depends on the temperature and time involved.

Fats with crystals in the form offer greater functionality, because they are softer, support aeration
better, and offer creaming properties. The form is thus generally the polymorph of greatest interest
for producing high-fat foods, such as margarines and confectionary and bakery products.

The speed of the transformation of the polymorphic form to the more stable form depends on which
type of crystals are crystallizing. PPP type crystals will crystallize fast and transform rapidly to the
stable form whereas POP type crystals will transform slowly to the more stable form.

The art of processing fat products in the case of paste products for instance is to control processing
settings to allow the right consistency at packing (liquid or semi solid) and which in time will achieve a
harder consistency which is solid and with a nice texture.