Palm oil gels with beeswax and carnauba wax as beef fat replacements
What it found
Palm oil gels made with beeswax or carnauba wax matched beef fat in texture and heat behavior.
A mixed oil gel had less saturated fat than beef fat.
What they found
Texture and heat behavior
The palm oil gels behaved much like beef fat when tested for firmness and how they respond to heat. There were some differences in color and how well they resisted breaking down over time.
Mixed oil fat profile
A gel blending palm, olive, and linseed oils had a better fat makeup than beef fat. It contained less saturated fat and more polyunsaturated fat.
Carnauba wax effects
Gels made with higher amounts of carnauba wax were harder, held up better to heat, and had a tighter structure under magnification. They also broke down from oxidation more easily.
Beeswax effects
Gels set with beeswax ended up with a softer texture than those made with carnauba wax.
What the authors conclude
- They say palm oil gels could work as a replacement for animal fat in meat products.
- Their mixed oil gel offered lower saturated fat and better health markers than beef fat.
- They suggest these gels meet consumer interest in healthier and more sustainable food options.
How it was done
Animal fat gives meat products their flavor and texture but contains high levels of saturated fat. The authors wanted to find a replacement that keeps food quality while improving the fat profile.
They made two types of palm oil gels, one using only palm oil and another blending palm, olive, and linseed oils. They used beeswax and carnauba wax at 5%, 7.5%, and 10% concentrations to set the gels. They then compared the physical properties and fat makeup of these gels to real beef fat.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work was done in a lab setting, not in people eating the product.
- It cannot show whether swapping beef fat for these gels changes health outcomes in real diets.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Universiti Putra Malaysia under Geran Inisiatif Putra Siswazah (from the PubMed record).
- Authors work at
- Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia; Shandong Vocational College of Light Industry, China
The paper
- Title
- Development and Characterization of Palm Oil-Based Oleogels Using Beeswax and Carnauba Wax as Healthier Beef Fat Mimetics
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Fu M, Mat Yusoff M, Mohd Adzahan N, Tan TB, Ismail-Fitry MR (2025). Development and Characterization of Palm Oil-Based Oleogels Using Beeswax and Carnauba Wax as Healthier Beef Fat Mimetics. Journal of food science. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.70241PubMed 40331723DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error