2.2.2. Gel formation
Solutions were poured into glass tubes (19 mm internal diameter
180 mm long), which were coated with food grade silicone
E. Çakır, E.A. Foegeding / Food Hydrocolloids 25 (2011) 1538e1546 1539
mold release (Price Driscoll Corp., Waterford, CT) and closed with
a rubber stopper at the bottom. Tubes were covered with aluminum
foil to prevent evaporation. The solutions were heated to 80 C in
a water bath for 30 min, followed by cooling at room temperature
(22 2 C) for 1 h and overnight refrigeration at 4 C. Gels were
allowed to equilibrate at room temperature (22 2 C) for at least
1 h before microstructure imaging, rheological analysis and waterholding
measurements. Each treatment was prepared in triplicate.