5th week ~~ Commercial product study (SKIN) ~~

This week we are required to study on the technical ingredients in terms of the name, usage, brand, amount and the effect of the technical ingredients added. Technical ingredient can be defined as addition ingredients added with small amount to improvise the food in terms of appearance of the product, texture of the product and the taste and flavour of the product. Function of technical ingredients varies based on the food products, some might work well, some might need extra medium to disperse and mix into the food product. 

This week we will be emphasizing on the technical ingredient used in dumpling skin. The technical ingredient we are using on skin are "Crisp Film" and "Batter Bind"  from Ingredion Brand.  

                   

We have tested on different percentage on the technical ingredient and observe the effect of technical ingredient on the food product. After that, we were require to cook some of the dumpling to compare the sensory attributes and which skin is the best among all the different percentage of technical ingredients used. The chosen skin will used as the wrapper of the commercial product dumpling for the next following week.

This week I am able to improve my skill on discipline specific knowledge as I am able to apply the theory of the fundamental knowledge about technical ingredients into the food product and observe the effect of the technical ingredients on the food product.

4th week domain 1 gold standard!!

This week we were required to conduct sensory test and product formulation alteration on the FILLING of the dumpling. We were required to choose the best filling out of the 4 types of gold standard with different filling formulation. The skin of the dumpling were the previous week gold standard where we pick out the best skin based on the sensory test and the feedback of the panels. The type of filling we chosen were two types variation of mushrooms, Portobello and Button mushrooms.

1st type of filling : ~ Portobello Mushrooms ~

2nd type of filling: ~ Button Mushroom ~

After evaluation of the panels feedback and ratings, we found out that most of the panels prefer button mushrooms more than portobello mushrooms. As portobello consist of a heavier taste than button mushroom, panels think it is overpowering the other ingredient and it is not that suitable for the dumpling as filling.

3 layer Filling dumpling ~~ (Mushrooms top, Cheese filling middle and Beef Filling at bottom)

We have encounter many of the unforeseen problems during the assembling fillings of the dumpling and molding as we are unable to see a 3 layer concept on the dumpling filling as heat causes cheese to melt and split, cheese layer was gone and left only meat and mushrooms. Besdies that, we also encounter a shrinkage problem for the filling of dumpling after cooked as beef will shrink almost double of it's size after cooking.

3rd week domain 1 gold standard !!

This is the 3rd week of the domain 1 gold standard, we finally able to produce the each of the gold standard of dumpling product on time and conduct the sensory test among the 20 panels. 

Each of the samples are labelled with their own respective code to prevent the panels to gain the ability to differentiate the samples based on logic thinking such as GS1.0, GS 2.0 have darker skin, GS 3.0 might have even darker skin and etc. This week gold standard are basically test on the different substitution of the spinach extract to the all-purpose flour ratio. As spinach extract contains abundant amount of water, it is crucial to balance and reduce the water use initially for the control dumpling samples with 100% all purpose flour.

GS1 - GS5 dumpling =)

Labelled samples with their own respective code.

After the sensory test, we are able to find out the preference of the panels based on the observation of the result and the ranking table. Most of the panels opinion stated the skin a little bit rough and the dumpling has been left outside for too long as the filling starts to get cold and the skin is a little bit dry and oily as well. We are able to choose the best skin among the others based on the opinions and the rating they gave in the sensory scorecard. 

We are able to absorb and apply the life long Discipline specific knowledge.  as we are able to apply the skill and absorb the knowledge taught during practical class. 

  

Week 2~~ Setting gold standard (Domain 1)

Previous week, we were required to produce 6 recipes including the control group recipe dumpling samples and conduct an sensory test to find out which was the best preferred recipe among all the recipes samples.

(Control recipe dumpling and GS 1.0 dumpling)

It was suppose to be done in the previous week but it got delayed and postponed until next week. This may due to few reasons, lack in time management, preparation before hand and the discipline as well. Through this week experience, we are able to identify the problems we faced and try to overcome these challenges with as many solutions as possible in the next following week. Although we managed to produce control recipe and one of our gold standard dumpling, we encounter some of the problems which was not predicted during the research. Hence, we are required to think of a solution to solve the problem or think out of the box for another alternative choice which will enhance our product and at the same time, achieving the goal.

Time frame was created to keep all of our task on time and to prevent any delaying to occur as a delay on a task will definitely affect the other task as well. We also separate each task and job among others to increase the efficiency on the production. Each person is responsible and in charge of their own task. 

Starting Of Final Semester !! Food Product Development 2.0 !!

Last Semester !! 

Finally, this will be the final semester and we are going to work hard this final year to further develop our beta-concept dumpling product which was created from the previous semester Food product development 1.0. Right now, we are currently entering into Food product development 2.0 domain 1, which is setting the gold standard.

Gold standard is common in food product development as it acts as a prototype standards whereby created food deemed to be the best or the most representative product of its type. It is not done by altering or creating a new formulation but it is a matter of having similar characteristics such as sensory profile. 

                             

For first domain, we were required to generate 11 recipes including our control group recipes and then conduct an sensory test among people to gain their feedback on the product and evaluate on the sensory profile of the dumplings. We have to conduct our sensory test within 3 weeks and come out with a gold standard before we proceed to the next domain. Sensory test will determine the preference of the consumer on each type of the recipe and able to generate comments on each of them so that it enables us to understand more on the preference of the taste and texture and appearance of the dumpling consumers demand.

Last week ~~ Domain 6 Beta Concept

After all these effort and hard work contributed from my team mates and my beloved lecturer Dr Chong, we have finally reach the end of our semester 5 food product development which is the domain 6 Beta Concept. In this domain, we were required to conduct an presentation among the panels to pick the best alpha concept to be the beta concept.

Beta concept is the finalized concept used in the future food development. Our final concept would be the Burger Dumpling =) Stay tuned and anticipate for it !! Beta-concept was generated based on the previous 6 domain after many research and studies on the consumer, the market and the product itself as well. Through discussion, we had finalized our beta concept.

Beta-concept has to be able to meet the demands of the consumers and able to be marketable as well. Hence, it is important to conduct research and studies on previous domain to gain better understanding on consumers preferences and the factors affecting their food choice to enable our product to be marketable and meet their demands.

A brief understanding on Process of Food development ( SHORT SUMMARY ) ~~

In conclusion, food product development allows a better understanding towards what elements and properties consumer demand on the food product whether in terms of price of the food product, ingredients wise or the shelf life wise. Through various research and studies in the sequences of domains, it enable the develop team to identify their target consumer and the strategy on how to market their product and improve their product according to the consumers preferences by meeting their demands.

Various Food companies 

11th week of the semester Domain 5 Consumer Acceptance

This week domain is domain 5, which is the consumer acceptance. In domain 5, we were required to find 5 panels to participate in our discussion regarding to the feasibility studies we done whether more challenges that we do not foresee or there are solutions that we have not thought yet. It is also to obtain professional opinions towards the processing and formulation of the product. This is to aid in our process of choosing our beta concept later then which falls on domain 6. In this domain, participant was required to have one to one interview to fully access to the one opinions and suggestions based on their experience and their fields of study related to food.

    

We were able to found 5 panels within given time and obtain useful information from them in terms of the product itself and the processing issue as well. All the panels have education background related to culinary skills and food processing knowledge. 5 panelist were segregate to two categories which is lecturer and students. They have insight view on how the products is going to taste better and how to minimize cost and maximize production efficiency in food industry. Video and voice recorder were used to record the entire discussion, the purpose of this is to able to keep track on the important points and opinions said throughout the discussion in case anything were left out and did not recorded in written form.

Conclusion, We are able to extract few important points from the consumer acceptance and able to find out which one they prefer and thinks that that product is marketable, HOWEVER, this will be further discuss as in terms of formulation vice and packaging vice have to reconsider to an extend on the efficiency of producing the product and how is the product quality going to be good and maintain even though after long period. Through this domain 5 consumer acceptance, I am able to improve my life long learning skills as I am able to efficiently extract information based on the discussion and opinions given by the participants and apply it into our product on how we are able to improvise.