Sensory Evaluation
Seventy-five untrained adults (college students, age
range 20 to 30 years) who consumed cake as part of their
typical diet pattern participated in the study. No information
was collected on socioeconomic status or sensory
preferences for cakes. For testing, each round cake was
sliced in four (along the two perpendicular diameter axes)
and then each fourth sliced again in four from border to
center. Slicing was done by hand using an appropriate
knife. Crust was not removed for testing. Each panelist
evaluated four samples at a time (one control and one at
each of the three substitution levels). The samples were
evaluated for the degree of liking of color (visual), taste
(mouth), texture (mouth), and overall acceptability. Participants
used a 7-point hedonic scale (1dislike extremely,
4neither dislike nor like, and 7like extremely). They
completed paper ballots that contained the hedonic scales
and instructions. Participants were instructed to rate
each sample individually and not to rate samples against
each other.
The test was conducted in a 99 m room on a table
(42 m). Panelists were comfortably seated during testing.
Room temperature was controlled (20oC to 22oC) and
illumination (white) was appropriate. Six panelists sat at
a time (one at each end of the table and two on each side
of the table). Each panelist received a white plastic plate
with four samples each coded with a three-digit random
number. Water (20oC to 22oC) was provided for palate
cleansing. Participants were instructed not to communicate
between themselves. This study was approved by the
Institutional Review Board of Centro de Excelencia en
Productos y Procesos Córdoba.