Interesterified+fat

A triglyceride with a PUFA ([|linolenic acid]) at the sn-2 position which is replaced by a saturated fatty acid ([|stearic acid]) via interesterification. In vegetable polyunsaturated oils, the PUFA is commonly found at the middle position (sn2) on the glycerol. Stearic acid is not usually found at sn2 in vegetable oils used in the human diet.[|[1]]
 * Interesterified fat** is a type of oil where the fatty acids have been moved from one [|triglyceride] molecule to another. Interesterification does not alter the fatty acids. This is generally done to modify the [|melting point], slow [|rancidification] and create an oil more suitable for [|deep frying] or making [|margarine] with good taste and low content of saturated fatty acids. This is unlike [|partial hydrogenation] which produces [|trans fatty acids] but interesterified fats used in the food industry can come from hydrogenated fat, for simplicity and economic reasons. Fats such as [|soybean oil] consist mainly of various triglycerides which are made up of a glycerol backbone esterified to three fatty acid molecules. The triglycerides contain a mixture of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Interesterification is carried out by blending the desired oils and then rearranging the fatty acids over the glycerol backbone with, for instance the help of catalysts or [|lipase] enzymes.[|[1]] [|Polyunsaturated fatty acids] (PUFAs) decrease the melting point of fats significantly. A triglyceride containing three saturated fatty acids is generally solid at room temperature and not very desirable for many applications. Rearranging these tryglycerides with oils containing unsaturated fatty acids lowers the melting point and creates fats with properties better suited for target food products. In addition, blending interesterified oils with liquid oils allows the reduction in saturated fatty acids in many trans fatty acid free food products. The interesterified fats can be separated through controlled crystallization, also called fractionation.[|[2]]