Image Analysis for Oleogel and Oleogel-Based System Characterization

A wide range of structural characteristics and behaviors of food materials can be studied using imaging techniques along with specialized imaging software. In this chapter, we discuss the application of image analysis to oleogels and oleogel-based systems. First, we discuss some basic concepts of image analysis. This is followed by a description of the different imaging techniques used in the field of oleogels and commonly employed software and commands for image analysis. We then move to describe various qualitative and quantitative parameters that can be obtained from image analysis, emphasizing those obtained from oleogels composed of crystalline networks. Finally, we address the use of imaging to evaluate oil retention ability, as well as the potential use of artificial intelligence in image analysis of oleogels. Knowing the powerful capabilities of image analysis can provide the reader with a new tool to enrich the set of techniques commonly used to characterize and explain oleogel properties.