SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean researchers have developed a new process that uses edible insects to create meat-flavored seasoning.
A research team from Wonkwang University discovered that steamed mealworms emit a strong, corn-like odor.
When grilled or fried, they gave off a scent that resembles shrimp and frying oil.
The smell emitted when mealworms are grilled or fried comes primarily from compounds like pyrazine, alcohol and aldehyde, which are also found when cooking meat or seafood.
The research team then came up with 98 volatile compounds with varying amounts of mealworm powder and sugar for a wider range of flavors and scents, in which they chose the top 10 reaction flavors with high consumer preference, like the meat flavor.
Image Credit: Jeollanam-do Agricultural Research & Extension Service / Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
