Encapsulation of protein hydrolysates by spray drying: feasibility of using buffalo whey proteins

Summary This work aimed to produce and encapsulate protein hydrolysates of buffalo origin using spray drying with gum arabic and maltodextrin as encapsulating agents. The following core ratios were applied: encapsulating agent in the ratios of 1:10 and 1:15, with 50% gum arabic and 50% maltodextrin (50:50), and 70% gum arabic and 30% maltodextrin (70:30). The encapsulated particles were between 2.0 and 20.0 μm. The encapsulation efficiency of the samples was above 95% at the initial time. After 45 days of storage, encapsulation efficiency decreased to values below 60%. The 70:30 samples showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in hygroscopicity, moisture and water activity compared with free hydrolysates. The encapsulation process increased the values of oil retention, emulsifying activity and solubility of whey protein hydrolysates for all proportions evaluated, both at the initial time and after 45 days of storage. The branched‐chain amino acid concentration was higher in samples encapsulated at the 1:10 ratio. The spray drying encapsulation of buffalo protein hydrolysates with suitable encapsulating agents improves the techno‐functional characteristics of these hydrolysates, hence expanding their use in different food matrices and enabling the use of buffalo cheese whey.