A chromametric method for the rapid assessment of deep frying oil quality

A rapid chromametric method was developed for the assessment of deep frying oil quality based on the strong correlation between colour index and total polar compounds in deep frying oil. Colour indices of frying oil samples, measured by chromameter, decreased significantly during frying and were strongly correlated with frying time (r >= 0.95, p < 0.001). Colour indices of a set of oil samples taken from 0 to 80 h of deep frying were also significantly correlated with total polar compounds of the same samples determined using the official method of the American Oil Chemistsʹ Society (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). The equation for conversion of the colour index (x) to the content of total polar compounds (y) in an oil sample is y = 0.0174x^2 2.9506x + 124.34. In addition, colour indices of 10 different types of frying oils were strongly correlated with the corresponding contents of total polar compounds in the oils with samples taken from 0 to 80 h of deep frying in duplicate (r = 0.95, p < 0.001, n = 220). The results of colour index analyses agreed well with the results of chemical and sensory analyses of the frying oils tested. This chromametric method is rapid, convenient and reliable.