Type I caramel products of maltose and sucrose with water and their antioxidant activities

To study the caramel reactions of disaccharides with water, the type I maltose caramel products (MCPs) and sucrose caramel products (SCPs) at three reaction stages were yielded and their reaction rates, UV absorptions, flavor compounds, and antioxidant activities were also detected. It was found that the caramel reactions of sucrose were faster than those of maltose and their reaction rates quickly increased to a high level in the middle stage. UV absorption of SCP in the late stage at 305 nm was much stronger than those of MCPs. Both the MCP and SCP obtained at 180 °C and 4 min had the highest concentrations of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and total flavor compounds. Moreover, the total flavor concentrations of SCPs were much larger than those of MCPs and the antioxidant effects of SCPs were also stronger. Thus, a preferred condition for both two disaccharide caramel reactions was suggested at 180 °C for 4 min and the sucrose caramels could give better flavors than maltose caramels.