Water dynamics in white bread and starch gels as affected by water and gluten content

Three levels of water (180, 220 and 260 g/345 g flour) and three levels of gluten (giving 11.2, 13.0 and 14.2 g protein/100 g flour) were used to study the effects of water and gluten on water mobility in white bread using ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry. Changes in the transverse relaxation time (T₂) were related to water mobility. The three water levels resulted in three different moisture contents in the finished bread (0.55-0.77 g H₂O/g solids). Distributed exponential analysis showed two distinct regions of T₂ (30-600 μs and 1-60 ms), associated with multiple domains of water in the bread crumb. There was no significant difference in peak T₂ values with different gluten content, but significant differences were observed with different moisture content. The results suggested that the mobility of water associated with starch decreased dramatically because of gelatinization. To further investigate the effect of gluten on starch gelatinization, NMR measurements were made directly on model systems containing starch and various gluten amounts. The starch-gluten gels had higher T₂ values than pure starch gels, indicating less swelling of starch granules and absorption of water. This was attributed to less water available to starch in the presence of gluten.     

Effects of two barley β-glucan isolates on wheat flour dough and bread properties

The effects of wheat flour fortification with two different molecular weight barley β-glucan isolates (1.00 × 10⁵, BG-100 and 2.03 × 10⁵, BG-200) on the rheological properties of dough and bread characteristics, using flours from two wheat cultivars that differ in their breadmaking quality, have been examined. The farinograph water absorption of doughs and the moisture content and water activity of the breads increased with increasing β-glucan content; the β-glucan isolate with the higher molecular weight (BG-200) exerted a greater effect than did BG-100. The addition of β-glucans to the dough formula increased the development time, the stability, the resistance to deformation and the extensibility of the poor breadmaking quality doughs, as well as the specific volumes of the respective breads, exceeding even that of the good breadmaking cultivar. Furthermore, the colour of the bread crumbs got darker and their structure became coarser, whereas the bread crumb firmness decreased with increasing level of β-glucan addition. Generally, the BG-200 was more effective in increasing the specific bread volume and reducing the crumb firmness, especially when used to fortify the poor breadmaking quality flour. The results further indicate a requirement for optimisation of the fortified doughs (level and molecular size of the β-glucan) to maximise bread quality attributes (loaf volume, texture, and staling events).     

Effect of flour extraction rate and baking process on vitamin B1 and B2 contents and antioxidant activity of ginger-based products

The effect of flour extraction rate and baking on thiamine (vitamin B₁) and riboflavin (vitamin B₂) content and antioxidant capacity of traditional ginger cake was studied and then compared to white wheat bread. Ginger cake was formulated either with whole-grain (100% extraction rate) or with brown (92% extraction rate) rye flour and baked at 180 °C for 18 min. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated in terms of radical scavenging activity against peroxyl (ROO·) and superoxide anion radicals (O ₂ ^·? ). Thiamine content in rye doughs (F-100% and F-92%) was found to be 38% lower when compared to wheat dough. In contrast, whole-grain and brown rye doughs exhibited an almost fourfold higher riboflavin content than wheat dough. Rye dough baking led to reductions in thiamine (from 53 to 65%) and riboflavin (from 69 to 71%) contents. Likewise, thiamine and riboflavin contents in wheat dough were also reduced (56 and 10%, respectively) after baking; however, ginger cake with whole-grain rye flour exhibited significantly higher thiamine and riboflavin contents. Rye doughs and ginger cakes showed higher scavenging activities against ROO· radicals when compared to that of wheat dough and bread. Thus, baking significantly enhanced ROO· scavenging properties of ginger cakes while only a slight increase was observed in wheat bread. In contrary, baking gave rise to a decrease in SOD-like activity both in ginger cake or wheat bread. Our findings suggest that formulation with whole-grain rye flour can potentially increase B₁ and B₂ vitamin contents as well as the ROO· scavenging capacity of traditional ginger cake.     

Rheological and Breadmaking Properties of Wheat Flours Supplemented with Octenyl Succinic Anhydride-Modified Waxy Maize Starches

The feasibility of emulsifying starches as bread improvers was investigated by incorporating starch sodium octenyl succinate (OSA-st), pre-gelatinized OSA-st and hydrolysed spray-dried OSA-st at 2.5, 5 and 10 % into wheat flour. Dough rheological properties (creep and recovery measurements; Mixolab, Alveograph) and bread quality parameters (specific loaf volume, crust and crumb colour, crumb moisture, crumb grain features, texture) were evaluated. The substituted flours, except hydrolysed OSA-st, significantly increased water absorption measured by Mixolab. The study on the rheological behaviour of doughs containing emulsifying starches, performed using a rheometer and an Alveograph, showed that OSA-st incorporation yielded strengthened dough, whereas pre-gelatinized and hydrolysed OSA-st addition led to more extensible dough. With regard to the thermal behaviour, investigated in water-limited systems by Mixolab, doughs prepared from pre-gelatinized OSA-st and hydrolysed OSA-st exhibited lower maximum peak torque, whilst all three examined starches increased cooking stability and decreased the setback value. Specific volumes of loaves baked from the substituted flours increased, and the highest effect was observed with pre-gelatinized OSA-st, which consequently produced bread crumbs with the largest mean gas cell area. The bread crumbs baked with octenyl succinate starches were whiter and softer. Although upon 1 day of storage no significant moisture retention capacity of emulsifying starches was noticed, the firmness values of OSA-st and pre-gelatinized OSA-st-supplemented bread crumbs, after 24 h of storage, were similar to or significantly lower than those of the control determined 2 h after baking. The obtained results indicate a requirement for further optimization of the octenyl succinate starch-supplemented doughs in terms of the combination of different types and levels of modified starches in order to obtain maximum bread quality.     

Production of iron-fortified bread employing some selected natural iron sources

Iron fortification of wheat breads is the optimal approach for reducing the high prevalence of iron deficiency in wheat-eating developing countries as in Egypt. The effectiveness of some natural iron-fortificants for potential use in Egyptian bread was tested. Defatted soybean flour, soybean flour, soybean hull flour, molasses and fenugreek flour at different levels besides FeSO₄ · 7H₂O as standard were separately incorporated in the wheat flour dough. Dough characteristics were studied using a Brabender Farinograph, where addition of such fortificants improves significantly (p < 0.05) the water absorption, development time, dough stability and dough weakening. Good breads with high nutritive value, excellent crust color, crumb grain and high overall acceptability were produced by adding either 10% defatted soybean flour, 5% soybean hull flour, 2% molasses or 4% fenugreek flour. Rat feeding trials have shown a good haematological response, i.e. higher haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) values gained. Additional work is needed to identify other fortification options and to develop targeted fortification programes that will supply iron to all segments of a population in greatest need.     

Dynamic rheology of wheat flour dough. II. Assessment of dough strength and bread‐making quality

Controlled stress rheometry revealed that differences in wheat flour dough strengths could be observed by means of dynamic rheological measurements in the region of higher stress amplitude (ie >100 Pa). At lower stress amplitude (τ_o) the values of elastic modulus G′ for weak doughs were higher than those for strong doughs, but they decreased substantially beyond 100 Pa stress amplitude (τ_o), such that the G′ values for strong doughs crossed over the G′ values for weak doughs. Beyond a critical value of stress amplitude (ie 100 Pa), true differences in dough strengths could be seen on the basis of their elastic characteristics, because at large deformations protein–protein interactions played a more dominant role in the rheological behaviour of flour doughs. Dynamic rheological analysis demonstrated a very weak inverse relationship (R² = 0.16) between the G′ values of flour doughs and loaf volume data for 12 wheat cultivars of diverse bread‐making performance. However, the G′ values of glutens showed significant positive relationships with bread‐making performance, explaining 73% of the variation in loaf volume. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Exploitation of buckwheat sourdough for the production of wheat bread

This study investigates the exploitation of buckwheat sourdough for the production of wheat bread. The fermentation induced extensive hydrolysis of buckwheat main storage proteins, but did not influence the total protein, starch and polyphenols content of buckwheat. Buckwheat sourdough was incorporated at 10 and 20?% (w/w) in wheat dough, and control doughs were produced with the addition of a chemically acidified (CA) buckwheat batter. The addition of buckwheat sourdough greatly affected the rheological properties of the dough, by inducing a strengthening of the gluten network and decrease in elasticity. The acidification of wheat dough also stimulated the baker’s yeast activity during proofing, resulting in higher release of CO₂ in shorter times (volume of CO₂ released (ml), control dough, 1,671.5; dough with 10?% sourdough, 2,600; dough with 10?% chemically acidified dough, 2,715.5). The properties of wheat bread were enhanced by the addition of 10?% buckwheat sourdough, which led to higher specific volume (control, 3.41?ml/g; bread with 10?% sourdough, 4.03?ml/g) and softer crumb (crumb hardness, control, 5.28?N; bread with 10?% sourdough, 3.93?N). On the other hand, the higher acidification level did not influence the bread volume, but slightly hardened the crumb (crumb hardness, bread with 20?% sourdough, 7.41?N; bread with 20?% chemically acidified dough, 6.48?N). The fermentation positively influenced the nutritional properties of buckwheat flour and wheat bread, in terms of polyphenols (control bread, 8.84?mg GAE/100?g; bread with 10 and 20?% sourdough, 17.83 and 18.20?mg GAE/100?g, respectively) and phytic acid contents. Incorporation of buckwheat sourdough also led to an extension in the shelf life of wheat bread, which became more evident for the higher addition level. Overall, the results of this study suggest that buckwheat sourdough represents a suitable tool for enhancing the overall quality and nutritional properties of wheat bread.     

Techno‐functional properties of wheat flour‐resistant starch mixtures applied to breadmaking

Resistant starch can be used to reduce the availability of carbohydrates in baked products. In this study, the effect of type 4 resistant wheat starch (RS₄) on wheat flour dough and breads was evaluated. Wheat flour was substituted by RS₄ at 10%, 20% and 30% w/w (RS10, RS20 and RS30, respectively). Rheological and thermal behaviours of dough were evaluated. Besides, bread quality, starch digestibility and bread staling were analysed. All substituted dough exhibited viscoelastic behaviour but lower elastic and viscous moduli. Regarding to bread quality, specific volume and crumb texture were negatively affected in samples with RS₄. However, all samples were technologically acceptable. During storage, crumb hardening was observed in breads without and with RS₄ but amylopectin retrogradation was not particularly affected. The in vitro digestibility of bread with RS showed a lower release of reducing sugars and a lower estimated glycaemic index, suggesting a healthier profile for these breads.     

Bread quality by substituting normal and waxy hull-less barley (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hordeum Vulgare</Emphasis> L.) flours

Substitution of regular and waxy hull-less barley flour was evaluated in pan breads prepared from the blends of barley cvs. Saessal (SSWB) and Saechalssal (SCWB) with wheat flour. Effect of barley type and barley flour level (10, 20, and 30%) was investigated on compositions, dough development, and bread qualities. Compared to 100% wheat flour, increasing barley flour increased ash from 0.36 to 0.67%, and β-glucan from 0.1 to 1.91%. Pasting viscosity exhibited higher peak viscosity, through, and breakdown in barley flour blends, showing higher viscosity in SSWB than SCWB. Optimum water absorption and mixing time were increased in barley-wheat flour blends. Substitution of 10% barley flour had no significant difference from wheat bread in bread volume and crumb firmness statistically (p<0.05). The SSWB showed better bread qualities in terms of bread volume and crumb firmness than SCWB. The β-glucan content was 0.13% in wheat bread, but ranged from 0.45 to 1.05% in barley breads.     

Quality and antioxidant properties of bread containing turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cultivated in South Korea

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) powder was used to substitute 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% of wheat flour for making turmeric wheat breads. Proximate composition, physical quality, functional components (curcumin and total phenols) and antioxidant properties of breads containing turmeric were analysed and compared with those of wheat bread. Hardness, crumb colour a and b values, curcumin content and total phenolic contents of breads significantly increased with the addition of turmeric powder. Water activity, specific volume and crumb colour L value of breads decreased with the addition of turmeric powder. Breads containing turmeric powder also showed good antioxidant activity as tested by the β-carotene-linoleate bleaching assay. A 4% substitution of wheat flour with turmeric powder showed acceptable sensory scores which were comparable to wheat bread. Breads containing turmeric powder can thus be developed as a health-promoting functional food.     

Effects of ingredients on the oxidation of linoleic acid by lipoxygenase in bread doughs

Flour and water doughs containing 1-¹⁴C-linoleic acid (18:2) and various ingredients were prepared to study the oxidation of linoleic acid by lipoxygenase in bread doughs. Lipids were extracted, treated with diazomethane, and ¹⁴C-labelled fatty acid methyl esters separated by thin-layer chromatography. Radioactivity was determined in silica gel bands containing unoxidised 18:2, hydroperoxy acids (L₁), hydroxy acids (L₂), hydroxyepoxy acids (L₃) and trihydroxy acids (L₄). Minor components detected by autoradiography were present mainly in L₃ and L₄. Recoveries of total radioactivity were always > 95%. Untreated flour-water dough was mixed aerobically for ?4 min, rested, and the lipids extracted after 10 min total dough time. Yields of ¹⁴C products were unoxidised 18:2 = 28.6 μmol, L₄ = 93.9 μmol/100 g dry flour. Similar yields were obtained from ClO₂-treated flour, both after 10 min and 60 min dough time. Salt, salt + yeast, or salt + yeast + ascorbic acid in the dough did not reduce 18:2 oxidation significantly, but increased L₃ at the expense of L₄. Soya flour preparations inhibited linoleic acid oxidation by 25–44%, but pure soya lipoxygenase had no effect at all. Heat treatment reduced the inhibitory effect of soya flour. Accessible thiol groups were not essential for lipoxygenase activity or for the reduction of L₁ to L₂ since adding cysteine or N-ethyl maleimide had negligible effects on the 18:2 oxidation products. Most of the flour carotenoids (xanthophylls) were bleached by wheat enzymes in non supplemented doughs, and all were bleached in doughs supplemented with soya flour. ¹⁴C-labelled triglyceride was not oxidised except in doughs containing soya flour mixed in air (1.5% oxidation) or oxygen (3 % oxidation). Soya flour contains lipoxygenase isoenzymes (principally lipoxygenase-2) which oxidise linoleate in triglycerides. This isoenzyme is evidently not present in wheat.     

Enrichment of Bread with Nutraceutical‐Rich Mushrooms: Impact of Auricularia auricula (Mushroom) Flour Upon Quality Attributes of Wheat Dough and Bread

Edible mushrooms contain a variety of bioactive molecules that may enhance human health and wellbeing. Consequently, there is increasing interest in fortifying functional foods with these nutraceutical‐rich substances. However, incorporation of mushroom‐based ingredients into foods should not adversely affect the quality attributes of the final product. In this study, the impact of incorporating powdered Auricularia auricula, a widely consumed edible mushroom, into bread products was examined. The rheological and structural properties of wheat dough and bread supplemented with 0% to 10% (w/w) A. auricula flour were measured. Supplementation of wheat doughs with A. auricula flour increased the peak viscosity and enhanced their water holding capacity. Rapid viscosity analysis showed that peak and final viscosities of the blended flour (wheat flour with A. auricula flour) were higher than wheat flour alone. However, dough stability and elastic modulus were reduced by blending wheat flour with A. auricula flour. SEM observation showed that doughs with up to 5% (w/w) A. auricula flour had acceptable gluten network microstructure. Characterization of the quality attributes of bread indicated that incorporation of A. auricula flour at levels >5% negatively impacted bread volume, height, texture, and appearance.     

Rheological and Microstructure Characterization of Composite Dough with Wheat and Mesquite (Prosopis spp) Flours

Rheological behavior and microstructural characteristics of composite dough with wheat and mesquite flours (from Prosopis alba) were analyzed by response surface methodology. A central composite design was applied varying proportions of water (50 to 80 g each 100 g wheat flour) and mesquite flour (0 to 70 each 100 g wheat flour). Texture profile analysis showed that increasing the amount of mesquite flour and decreasing the amount of water led to less cohesive and more resilient doughs. Stress relaxation curves were fitted with a Maxwell model and relaxation times were obtained. These parameters resulted higher for those formulations low in mesquite content and high water levels. Composite dough showed a typical viscoelastic behavior with higher elastic moduli (G’) when mesquite flour ratio in the mixture was increased. ¹H-RMN T2 relaxation assays revealed higher mobility in samples with high amounts of water and minimum level of mesquite. A farinograph was adequate to obtain optimum water amounts and showed that addition of mesquite led to less stable dough respect to control wheat dough. By using confocal laser scanning microscopy with fluorescent probes rhodamine B and fluoresceine isothiocyanate, a poor gluten network development or protein aggregation was observed when water contents were far from optimum.     

Emulsifiers: Effects on Quality of Fibre-Enriched Wheat Bread

Resistant starch (RS) is a nutritional ingredient commonly used in bread products as dietary fibre (DF). This ingredient presents similar physiological functions than those imparted by DF, promoting beneficial effects such as the reduction of cholesterol and/or glucose levels on blood. Quality improvement of bread containing RS, with an optimized combination of emulsifiers, will be useful in the development of new and healthy bakery products. The objective of this research was to analyse the effects of different emulsifiers on several quality parameters of dough and bread prepared with wheat flour partially substituted with resistant starch as a dietary fibre. A blend of wheat flour/maize-resistant starch (MRS; 87.5:12.5) with sodium chloride, ascorbic acid, α-amylase, compressed yeast and water was utilized. Emulsifiers were incorporated to formulations in different levels according to a simplex centroid design. The viscoelastic, textural and extensional properties of dough were analysed. Bread quality was evaluated throughout the gelatinization and retrogradation of starch, specific volume of loaves, and texture and firmness of bread crumb. The incorporation of 12.5% (w/w) of MRS to wheat flour caused an increase of 5% in water absorption. Stability decreases markedly (from 9.9 to 2.2 min) and the mixing tolerance index increased (from 79 to 35 UF). The sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL)–diacetyl tartaric acid esters of monoglycerides (DATEM) mixture increased hardness and resistance to extension on dough, whilst dough containing Polysorbate 80 (PS80) was softer; nevertheless, both types of dough retained less CO₂. An optimized concentration of the three emulsifiers (0.24% SSL, 0.18% PS80, 0.08% DATEM, w/w) was obtained by surface response methodology. The bread prepared with this combination of emulsifiers presented a considerable specific volume with a very soft crumb.     

Evaluation of viscoelastic properties and air-bubble structure of bread containing gelatinized rice

The impact of addition of gelatinized rice porridge to bread has been investigated on loaf volume, viscoelastic properties and air-bubble structure. We prepared four variety of bread: bread containing rice porridge (rice porridge bread), bread containing gelatinized rice flour (gelatinized rice flour bread), and wheat flour and rice flour breads for references. Instrumental analyses the bread samples were carried out by volume measurement of loaf samples, creep test and digital image analysis of crumb samples. Rice porridge bread showed the maximum specific volume of 4.51 cm³/g, and even gelatinized rice flour bread showed 4.30 cm³/g, which was larger than the reference bread samples (wheat and rice flour breads). The values of viscoelastic moduli of gelatinized rice flour bread and rice porridge bread were significantly smaller (p < 0.05) than those of wheat flour and rice flour breads, which indicates addition of gelatinized rice flour or rice porridge to bread dough encouraged breads softer. Bubble parameters such as mean air- bubble area, number of air-bubble, air-bubble area ratio (ratio of bubble area to whole area) were not significantly different among the bread crumb samples. Therefore, the bubble structures of the bread samples seemed to similar, which implied that difference of viscoelasticity was attributed to air-bubble wall (solid phase of bread crumb) rather than air-bubble. This study showed that addition of gelatinized rice to bread dough makes the bread with larger loaf volume and soft texture without additional agents such as gluten.     

Application of Response Surface Methodology to the Development of Rice Flour Yeast Breads: Objective Measurements

A gluten-free wheat bread replacement was developed from rice flour (80%) and potato starch (20%). Using objective measurements as responses, response surface methodology was utilized to find carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC)-water combinations which could successfully replace gluten in the rice flour yeast breads from each of three rice flours. CMC and water had the greatest effect on the responses measured; HPMC had the least. Rice bread formulations were found that resulted in breads which met wheat (white) bread reference standards for specific volume, crumb and crust color, Instron firmness and % moisture.     

Effect of Butternut (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poiret) Fibres on Bread Making, Quality and Staling

The effect of different enriched fibre products obtained from butternut (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poiret) on bread making and bread quality was evaluated through the study of bread yield, quality parameters (specific volume, crumb firmness, crumb and crust colour) and bread shelf life. Fractions tested were obtained from butternut mesocarp through ethanolic treatment (fraction AIR) or through dehydration (fraction S) or from the ethanolic treatment of peel (fraction C). These fractions were incorporated in a bread formula, at levels of 5, 10 and 15 g of fibre fraction per kilogram of wheat flour. The study of crumb through digital imaging and thermal analysis was also performed in order to better understand the effects observed. An important influence of water absorption kinetics and chemical composition of the fibre fractions studied was observed in the results obtained. Lower bread firmness was determined 24 h after baking when 10 g of C or either 10 or 15 g of S was present per kilogram of wheat flour used. Breads made with flour containing 10–15 g of S or 5 g of C per kilogram of wheat flour tended to be softer, while 10 g of C per kilogram of flour produced significantly softer breads along 9 days storage.     

Rheological,microstructural and sensorial properties of durum wheat bread as affected by dough water content

In this paper the influence of water content on the rheological, microstructural and sensorial properties of durum wheat bread was evaluated. In order to evaluate bread quality, oscillation measurements, stress relaxation test and creep–recovery measurements were performed on dough samples, whereas tomographic and sensorial analyses were performed on baked bread samples. Results of the rheological analysis highlighted that both the storage and loss moduli (G′, G″) showed a descending trend with the increase of the water content. This is also confirmed by stress relaxation tests. Creep–recovery tests for strong doughs (with low water content), recorded greater resistance to deformation, therefore a smaller creep strain than the softer doughs. These results were reflected in the microstructural properties of the bread; an increase in water content caused an increase in the percentage volume of pores. Regarding the sensorial properties, the overall acceptability of the investigated bread samples was low for both the lowest and the highest water contents, and this was due primarily to the compact crumb with small bubbles and high crust firmness for the former and to the loaf volume collapsed with irregular distribution of very large bubbles for the latter. Therefore, the bread samples with intermediate water content were preferred by the panelists.     

1H NMR studies of molecular mobility in wheat starch

Pulsed ¹H NMR was used to determine moisture content and molecular mobility of wheat starch suspensions at water activity (a_w) values between 0 and 0.93. Moisture determination by NMR agreed well with gravimetric determinations (R²=0.99). Transverse proton relaxation (T₂) of the systems were identified using single pulse and CPMG experiments. T₂ associated with starch molecules increased linearly from 7.1 to 10.1 μs as a_w increased from 0 to 0.93, due to plasticizing effects of water. T₂ associated with water molecules showed a linear increase up to a_w of 0.69. Results indicated that ¹H NMR could be employed to determine moisture content of starch suspension and to identify and quantify the molecular motion of starch chains and water molecules of starch suspensions at low moisture levels.