Comparison of the proximal chemical and fatty acid composition of the fried grasshopper’s (Orthoptera) dish

In Mexico, especially in Hidalgo State, a variety of insects are sold in different culinary preparation ways, which the most accepted by the consumer living in the city are the butter-fried grasshoppers. Therefore, the objective of this work was to compare the proximal chemical composition and the quality of fatty acids in the butter-fried grasshoppers that are commercialized. The samples of fresh and fried grasshoppers were purchased. The fresh samples were dehydrated and both samples were homogenized and proximal chemical composition and fatty acids were analyzed. The oils were extracted with Soxhlet extraction equipment. To measure the quality of the oils, a chemical analysis and an instrumental analysis were carried out. The lipids were the majority in the dehydrated (40.11%) and fried (47.67%) samples. Moisture and temperature were the variables that increased the lipid degradation in the samples. There was a difference in the percentages of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in dehydrated and fried samples, with 37.11% and 44.41%, and 62.77% and 55.46%, respectively. The excess consumption of this dish, in addition of a low physical activity, can cause damage to the body; therefore, it is suggested to select an alternate lipid source.