An agricultural waste, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel is known to be rich in total phenolics, which are flavonoids having strong antioxidant effects. In this study, pomegranate peel sponge cakes were prepared with varying ratios of freeze dried pomegranate peel powder (0, 1, 3, 5, 7% (w/w)) to examine their effect on quality characteristics, retrogradation and antioxidant activities. The specific gravity and moisture contents of 3, 5, and 7% pomegranate peel powder showed higher values than the control and 1% group. Addition of pomegranate peel powder increased the batter yield, while there was a significant decrease in baking loss. Increasing pomegranate peel powder content significantly decreased the lightness (L) (from 75.03 to 57.04) and pH values, whereas redness (a), yellowness (b) and ΔE were increased. Increasing concentration of the peel powder also increased the hardness and chewiness, while the springiness and cohesiveness decreased. Considering the Avrami equation, Avrami exponene (n) decreased from 1.8055 (control) to 0.9199 (7% pomegranate peel powder). Time constant (1/k) was lowest in control (at 17.64) and highest in the 7% group (39.84). Total polyphenol, flavonoid content, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities significantly increased with increments in the content of pomegranate peel powder. A sensory evaluation by the 7-point scaling method showed that the sponge cake containing 7% pomegranate peel powder had the highest scores in color, flavor, sweetness, chewiness and overall acceptability. Hence, it is considered that sponge cake supplemented with 7% pomegranate peel powder is the most appropriate for quality characteristics, retrogradation and antioxidant activities.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality characteristics of white bean based Yanggaeng containing various levels of pomegranate powder (0, 2, 4 and 8%, w/w). The pH values of Yanggaeng containing pomegranate powder were found to decrease when increasing the amount of pomegranate powder. However, moisture and sugar contents were increased (p＜0.05). For color values, both L and b values were reduced by increasing the amount of pomegranate powder, while a values were increased significantly (p＜0.05). In textural properties, the addition of pomegranate powder resulted in the increase of hardness, chewiness and gumminess, while cohesiveness and springiness decreased. Antioxidant activities, evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and total phenolic substances content increased when increasing the amount of pomegranate powder. Results of descriptive analysis showed that by increasing the amount of pomegranate powder, some attributes such as the intensity of the flavor, sourness, hardness and chewiness increased (p＜0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in sweetness. In a preference test, Yanggaeng containing 4% pomegranate powder appeared to be the most preferred for all attributes tested including overall acceptability. It was concluded that Yanggaeng containing pomegranate can be prepared with good sensory properties and antioxidant activities, and the addition of 4% pomegranate powder was found to be ideal.

Cookie samples were prepared with pomegranate powder (PP) substituted for 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of thewheat flour. The effect of increased levels of PP on the physicochemical properties and consumer acceptance ofcookies was investigated. With the addition of PP, the pH and moisture content of both cookie dough and cookiesdecreased while the soluble solids content increased significantly (p<0.05). Also lightness (L*) decreased and red-ness (a*) increased significantly with increasing amounts of PP in the cookies (p<0.05). Hardness increased from14.05N for the control to 22.44N for 20% PP (p<0.05). In general, the total polyphenol content (TPC) of thecookies increased significantly with the addition of PP (p<0.05). Acceptability ratings indicated that 10% PP con-tent provided the optimum supplementation level for the highest consumer acceptability of the fortified cookies.