State-of-the-Art Food Gels

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Chemistry and Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 542

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Food Engineering and Process Management, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: food texture and rheology; drying and osmotic dehydration; acoustic properties of food; food foams; gels; extruded cereals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Engineering and Process Management, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: freezing; recrystallization; ice cream; gels; food hydrocolloids; bioengineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food gels, with their unique structural and functional properties, have emerged as a cornerstone of modern food science and technology. From enhancing texture and stability to enabling innovative applications in nutrient delivery, plant-based alternatives, and personalized nutrition, these soft materials are redefining the boundaries of food innovation. This Special Issue, State-of-the-Art Food Gels, aims to highlight cutting-edge advances in the design, characterization, and application of food-grade gels, bridging interdisciplinary research across materials science, food engineering, colloid chemistry, and nutrition.

We invite contributions exploring novel gelation mechanisms, sustainable fabrication techniques (e.g., 3D printing, enzymatic crosslinking), and the integration of emerging ingredients such as alternative proteins, polysaccharides, and bioactive compounds. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Design and Innovation: Rheological, mechanical, and sensory properties of food gels; hybrid/composite gels.
  • Functional Applications: Gel-based systems for controlled release, meat/dairy analogs, and functional foods targeting health (e.g., gut health, satiety, sports energy gels).

The issue focuses on food gelation and novel functions therein. We call for relevant research publications to reflect the most recent progress on this topic, or to highlight the most crucial scientific emphasis. You are kindly encouraged to submit a manuscript(s) to this Special Issue, where research articles, communications, and scientific reviews are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Ewa Jakubczyk
Dr. Anna Kaminska-Dworznicka
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • food gels
  • starch
  • oleogels
  • food hydrocolloids
  • natural biopolymers
  • food texture and rheology
  • functional food
  • dried gels
  • aerated gels
  • gelling agents
  • 3D printing

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 1819 KB  
Article
Influence of Rice Physicochemical Properties on High-Quality Fresh Wet Rice Noodles: Amylose and Gel Consistency as Key Factors
by Dezhi Zhao, Yuanyuan Deng, Qi Huang, Guang Liu, Yan Zhang, Xiaojun Tang, Pengfei Zhou, Zhihao Zhao, Jiarui Zeng, Ying Liu and Ping Li
Gels 2025, 11(9), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11090696 - 2 Sep 2025
Viewed by 388
Abstract
Fresh wet rice noodles (FWRNs) are a popular staple food in southern China. The quality of rice varieties results in the inconsistent quality of FWRNs. However, evaluation of rice adaptability for the production of FWRNs is not comprehensive due to the absence of [...] Read more.
Fresh wet rice noodles (FWRNs) are a popular staple food in southern China. The quality of rice varieties results in the inconsistent quality of FWRNs. However, evaluation of rice adaptability for the production of FWRNs is not comprehensive due to the absence of unified screening standards. In this study, twelve rice varieties in southern China were selected to analyze the correlations between rice’s physicochemical properties and the quality characteristics of FWRNs. Results showed that KIM, GC, and IZG rice exhibited a high chalky grain rate and low gel consistency, while the related starches had a high amylose content, high setback value, and low short-range order. Their noodles achieved high total sensory scores and exhibited high levels of sensory and textural qualities. Correlation analysis revealed that the chalky grain rate, chalkiness degree, protein and fat contents, and amylose content were significantly and positively correlated with the hardness, elasticity, chewiness, and total sensory score of FWRNs. Therefore, based on the structural parameters of KIM and GC rice, amylose content between 26–28% and gel consistency between 33–36 mm would be the key factors for raw rice to make high-quality FWRNs. These results offer theoretical guidance for rice selection in the industrial-scale production of FWRNs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Food Gels)
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