Characteristics and oil absorption in deep‐fat fried batter prepared from ball‐milled wheat flour

BACKGROUND: The porous structure generated during frying influences oil absorption and textural qualities. The alteration in physical properties of wheat flour is suspected to affect the structure formation. The present study investigated the effect of physicochemical changes in wheat flour by the ball‐milling process on structure formation and consequently oil absorption of a fried wheat flour batter model. RESULTS: Batter models containing 600 g kg^?1 moisture were made of 0–10 h ball‐milled wheat flour and then fried in frying oil at 150 °C for 1–7 min. The samples made of milled flour possess larger pores and exhibit lower oil absorption than sample made of 0 h milled flour. The fracture force of a fried sample prepared from 5 and 10 h milled flour is lower than that of a sample prepared from 0 h milled flour. CONCLUSION: The decrease in glass transition temperature (T_g) and melting temperature (T_m) of milled flour affect the microstructure formation in the fried wheat flour batter. The microstructure is responsible for oil absorption and fracturability in fried food. The samples made of flour of longer ball‐milling time have lower oil absorption and higher crispness. Ball‐milling may be a tool to produce mechanically modified wheat flour which can reduce oil absorption for fried batter. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Characteristics and oil absorption of deep‐fat fried dough prepared from ball‐milled wheat flour

BACKGROUND: High levels of oil in fried products has been recognized as causing health problems. The formation of microstructure during frying is one factor that influences oil absorption. Above the glass transition temperature (T_g), the physical properties of a polymer influences the formation of structure. The ball‐milling process changes the physicochemical properties of wheat flour constituents. The present study investigated the effects of physicochemical changes in wheat flour by the ball‐milling process on structure formation and oil absorption in wheat flour dough model. RESULTS: Dough samples were made from wheat flour that had been ball‐milled for 0 to 10 h and then fried in frying oil at 150 °C for 1–7 min. Thermal properties of wheat flour, structure alteration, and textural properties of fried samples were evaluated. As compared with samples made of non‐milled flour, samples made from milled flour had smaller pores and higher oil absorption. The fracture force of a fried sample prepared from non‐milled flour was lower than that of a sample prepared from milled flour. CONCLUSION: Ball‐milling affected the microstructure formation in fried wheat flour dough, and subsequently oil absorption. The crispness of a sample prepared from non‐milled wheat flour is higher than that of a sample prepared from ball‐milled wheat flour. This may be due not only to a plasticization effect, but may also be dependent on microstructure. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Genetic diversity in the physicochemical properties of waxy rice (Oryza sativa L) starch

The genetic diversity in the physicochemical properties of starches from 56 waxy rice (Oryza sativa L) genotypes (34 of indica and 22 of japonica) was studied. The parameters included thermal and retrogradation properties tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), pasting viscosity tested by rapid viscoanalyser (RVA), and flour swelling volume (FSV). Wide diversity was found in all the parameters. According to their gelatinisation temperature (GT), the waxy rice genotypes could be divided into two groups, a high‐GT group and a low‐GT group. A total of 15 genotypes were identified as high‐GT, all belonging to the indica subspecies. There was about a 5 °C difference within each group and a 10 °C difference between groups. Many parameters were correlated with each other in all 56 waxy rices, but some correlations were also consistent and significant when comparing the high‐GT group and the low‐GT group separately. For example, hot paste viscosity (HPV) was positively correlated with onset temperature (T_o) and enthalpy of gelatinisation (ΔH_g). The results suggested that initial screening in waxy rice breeding programmes for varieties with desirable starch properties for specific food uses could be efficiently accomplished using pasting profiles from the RVA. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evolution of functional,thermal and pasting properties of sprouted whole durum wheat flour with sprouting time

This research investigated the evolution of functional, pasting and thermal properties of durum wheat (Triticum durum) with sprouting time. Particle size, flour and flour gel hydration properties (Water Holding Capacity (WHC), Swelling Volume (SV), Water Absorption Index (WAI), Water Solubility Index (WSI), Swelling Power (SP)), Oil Absorption Capacity (OAC), Pasting and thermal properties were evaluated on different sprouting time: 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h. Results showed that more than 12 h decreased significantly particle size, WHC(−14.8%), SV (−19%), SP (−14%) and WAI (−36.5%) while WSI (+383%) and OAC (+7.3%) increased. Pasting properties drastically decreased with sprouting time. DSC results showed a significant increase in onset temperature (T₀) (from 55.2 to 58.2 °C), peak temperature (T_p) (from 62.4 to 63.8 °C) while conclusion temperature T_c decreased (from 76 to 72.6 °C). Despite these changes, sprouted whole wheat flour could be suggested as an improver of some cereal products’ functionality.     

Measurement of electrical conductivity,differential scanning calorimetry and viscosity of starch and flour suspensions during gelatinisation process

Electrical conductivity measurements were applied to analyse the gelatinisation process of 12 starch or flour suspensions. The electrical conductivity of starch suspensions was found to increase upon gelatinisation because of the release of ions from starch granules. The initiation temperature of ion release, T_i, correlated well with the onset temperature in the DSC thermogram (R = 0.868), while the completion temperature of ion release, T_f, correlated with the temperature at the start of viscosity increase (R = 0.865). Thus T_i and T_f corresponded to the beginning and ending temperatures of gelatinisation respectively. The electrical conductivity measurement will be used as an on‐line technique to monitor the whole process of starch gelatinisation. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structural Transformation of Sago Starch by Heat‐Moisture and Osmotic‐Pressure Treatment

Sago starch was modified by osmotic‐pressure treatment (OPT) and heat‐moisture treatment (HMT) and physicochemical characteristics were compared. In OPT, sago starch was suspended in saturated sodium sulfate solution and heated for 1 h at 100, 110 and 120°C, corresponding to a calculated osmotic pressure of 32,728, 33,640 and 34,552 kPa (assuming sodium sulfate dissociates completely), respectively, and in HMT, sago starch with 20% moisture content was used. Change of X‐ray diffraction pattern from C‐type to A‐type was obtained for OPT and HMT starch at 110°C and 120 °C, respectively. RVA viscograms of both OPT and HMT starch exhibited a decrease of peak and breakdown viscosity but increase of final viscosity and pasting temperature. Onset (T_o), peak (T_p), and conclusion temperature (T_c) of gelatinization of both OPT and HMT starch increased significantly with increase of treatment temperature. Biphasic broadening of T_p was observed for HMT starch indicating an inhomogeneous heat transfer during HMT. The observed narrow peaks of DSC curves indicated better homogeneity of OPT. These properties suggest that OPT starch is more suitable for large‐scale production.     

Effect of storage of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) on starch and protein properties

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to evaluate the effect of storage at 10°C, 20°C and 30°C, and 40% and 65% relative humidity (RH) on adzuki bean starch gelatinisation and protein denaturation temperatures. Storage for 6 months at an elevated storage temperature (30°C) caused increases in the starch gelatinisation onset temperature (T_o) and gelatinisation peak temperature (T_p) for both Bloodwood and Erimo varieties. Storage at 40% RH resulted in higher T_o and T_p values than storage at 65% RH. The T_o of starch from Bloodwood and Erimo beans stored for up to 1.5 months at 10°C and 65% were similar to those of fresh beans.The changes in the salt-soluble protein component were less clear cut than those of the starch. Nonetheless, protein extracted from beans stored at 40% RH exhibited significantly lower T_o and T_p values compared with those stored at 65% RH. This indicates some destabilisation of the protein at the higher RH.These results suggest that detrimental changes occur in starch and, to a lesser extent protein, of adzuki beans stored under unfavourable conditions. On the basis of these results, the best storage conditions to maintain the characteristics of fresh beans are low temperatures (e.g. 10°C) and high RH (e.g. 65%).     

Gelatinisation properties of native and annealed potato starches

The relationship between the gelatinisation parameters of native and annealed starches extracted from ten different potato varieties grown at the same site at the same time was studied. The objective was to identify how native gelatinisation temperatures and enthalpies impacted on annealed starch gelatinisation parameters. Prior to ANN, the initial onset (T_o), peak (T_p) and conclusion (T_c) gelatinisation temperatures ranged from 58.71 to 62.45, 62.52 to 66.05 and 68.67 to 72.27°C, respectively, which increased to 66.15 to 69.12, 70.22 to 72.30 and 76.21 to 77.44°C, respectively, post ANN. Overall, the greater the initial gelatinisation temperatures the smaller the increment (ΔGT) post ANN. Comparable enthalpy values pre‐ and post‐ANN were 15.13 to 18.37 and 15.76 to 18.37 J/g, respectively. These data indicate that the more ‘perfect’ the crystallites were before ANN the less they could be enhanced by the ANN process and that against a constant background of α‐glucan structure, the pattern (rate) of starch deposition might be the primary differentiator of starch architecture across the varieties.     

A comparison between the properties of seed,starch, flour and protein separated from chemically hardened and normal kidney beans

The physicochemical, functional and thermal properties of starch, flour and protein isolates obtained from chemically hardened kidney beans were evaluated. A rapid chemical hardening procedure (soaking in acetate buffer, pH = 4.0, 37 °C, 6 h) was used to produce hardened kidney beans. Chemical hardening altered physicochemical, cooking, hydrating and textural properties of beans to a significant level (P < 0.05). Soaked and cooked chemically hardened beans had a higher value for different textural parameters than their normal counterparts. Chemical hardening increased cooking time (from 49 to 123 min) of beans and decreased swelling power and solubility of starch. The turbidity value of gelatinized starch suspensions from chemically hardened beans was significantly lower than that from normal beans. Chemical hardening of beans caused significant increase in transition temperatures (T_o, T_p, T_c) and enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) of both starch and flour. Chemically hardened bean starch showed significantly higher pasting temperature (94.9 °C) as compared to normal bean starch (83.2 °C). Flour and protein isolate from chemically hardened beans showed significantly lower water absorption, oil absorption, foaming capacity and gelling ability than those from normal beans. The onset temperature (T_m), peak denaturation temperature (T_d) and heat of transition or enthalpy (ΔH) of protein isolate from hardened and normal beans did not differ significantly. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Porosity determination of deep‐fat‐fried coatings using pycnometer (Fried batter porosity determination by pycnometer)

The effect of processing conditions such as frying time and temperature, and batter formulation on pore development in deep‐fat fried chicken nuggets coatings were studied using helium pycnometer method. Chicken nuggets with preformed and laboratory prepared batter coatings were fried at temperatures between 170 and 190 °C for a time range between 0 and 240 s. There was significant (P < 0.05) effect of frying temperature and batter formulation on porosity. Porosity increased with frying time and temperature, and ranged between 2.15 and 47.92% for the preformed batter and 9.96 and 54.76% for the formulated batters. Apparent and bulk densities of the preformed batters increased and decreased with frying time, respectively, but both declined gradually with increasing frying temperature. As the level of rice flour in the formulation increased, apparent and bulk densities also increased. Batter formulation and frying temperature significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the variation in moisture and fat content of the fried batter. Porosity demonstrated positive and negative correlation with fat uptake and moisture loss, respectively, for all the batter coatings.     

Comparative Study on Functional,Rheological, Thermal,and Morphological Properties of Native and Modified Cereal Flours

Effect of extrusion on the functional, rheological, thermal, and morphological properties of the modified cereal flours from different cereals was assessed. Rice flour, wheat flour, and flour, in combination (rice: wheat, 50:50) were passed through twin screw extruder to obtain modified cereal flours at variable conditions (barrel temperature: 175 and 190°C, feed moisture: 14 and 16% and screw speed: 500 rpm). Functional properties (water absorption index, water solubility index, swelling index, and viscosity) improved in modified cereal flours as compared to the unmodified flours. Modified flours showed lower paste viscosity as compared to unmodified flours, which was a desirable property for modified flours to be utilized as a functionality ingredient in food products. Processed flours recorded higher onset (T_o), peak (T_p), and endset (T_e) temperature and showed higher enthalpy change (?H) than the raw cereal flours. Degree of gelatinization was higher in flours processed at higher barrel temperature and feed moisture. The morphological pattern of modified flours was determined by scanning electron microscopy. The starch surface of cereal flours (modified and unmodified) differed from each other with respect to their morphological pattern.     

Effects of pre-heating temperature and formulation on porosity,moisture content,and fat content of fried batters

The effect of pre-heating temperatures on moisture and fat contents, and porosity of fried batters was studied. Batter pre-heated at 60 °C showed higher moisture content, lower fat content and lower porosity than non-pre-heated batter and batters pre-heated at 70 and 80 °C. Moisture content, fat content, and porosity at 4 min frying for batters with different pre-heating treatments ranged from 35.08 to 39.37, 3.92 to 5.16, and 13.14 to 45.31 %, respectively. Because of significant reduction in fat content, 60 °C pre-heating temperature was chosen to study the effect of batter formulations on moisture and fat contents, and porosity. Different wheat to rice flour ratios were prepared, and then each batter was pre-heated at 60 °C. Batters with higher wheat flour content showed higher moisture content, and lower fat content and porosity than batters with higher rice flour.     

Thermo‐rheological and functional properties of gamma‐irradiated wholewheat flour

The effects of different doses (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 kGy) of gamma irradiation on the thermal, rheological and functional properties of the wholewheat flour were evaluated. Water and oil absorption capacity of the flour increased from 85.92% to 91.44% and 1.10 to 1.91 g g^?1 of flour, respectively, with increase in irradiation dose. The dough development time decreased with dose from 4.0 to 3.0 min. The transition temperatures (T_o, T_p and T_c) decreased as the dose increased; enthalpy of gelatinisation (?H) decreased from 5.18 to 4.27 J g^?1 with dose. The flow behaviour showed a shear‐thinning behaviour, and the hysteresis area decreased with dose. The structural recovery decreased with dose. FTIR did not show formation of any new chemical groups.     

Thermal properties of batter systems formulated by combinations of different flours

There is an increasing consumer preference for reduced oil content in fried food products. The amount of fat absorbed by deep fried foods can be modified using appropriate coatings such as batter and breading systems. Coatings also change the heat transfer characteristics of the composite products. The goal of this study was to determine some thermal properties of selected batter mixes that are commonly used for deep fat frying of chicken products. Three types of flour-based batter mixes were used. These were mixtures of wheat and rice (WR), wheat and corn (WC), and corn and rice (CR) flours with salt and different methylcellulose (MC) levels. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to measure glass transition temperature (T_g), gelatinization temperature (T_G), ice-melting temperature (T_m) and enthalpy (ΔH_G) of the different batter formulations. Salt and MC greatly influenced the thermal properties of batter systems as they increased T_G, but depressed T_m. Adding rice and corn flours to wheat flour based batters apparently changed the thermal properties. Corn flour based batters required considerable more energy for gelatinization during the cooking process.     

Resistant starch and thermal,morphological and textural properties of heat‐moisture treated rice starches with high‐, medium‐ and low‐amylose content

This study investigated the effects of heat‐moisture treatment (HMT) on the resistant starch content and thermal, morphological, and textural properties of rice starches with high‐, medium‐ and low‐amylose content. The starches were adjusted to 15, 20 and 25% moisture levels and heated at 110°C for 1 h. The HMT increased the resistant starch content in all of the rice starches. HMT increased the onset temperature and the gelatinisation temperature range (T_finish–T_onset) and decreased the enthalpy of gelatinisation of rice starches with different amylose contents. This reduction increased with the increase in the moisture content of HMT. The morphology of rice starch granules was altered with the HMT; the granules presented more agglomerated surface. The HMT affected the textural parameters of rice starches; the high‐ and low‐amylose rice starches subjected to 15 and 20% HMT possessed higher gel hardness.     

Comparisons of physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities among pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.) flour and isolated starches from fresh pumpkin or flour

Physicochemical properties (pasting and thermal properties, swelling power, water solubility and antioxidant activities) and chemical composition of pumpkin flour (PF) and starches, isolated from fresh pumpkin (SFF) or flour (SFP) were compared. SFP and SFF had similar proximate composition and amylose content. Drying process during PF preparation modified starch properties. PF exhibited greater antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP), but had lower β‐carotene than fresh pumpkin. SFF and SFP had higher amylose content than PF, and exhibited a B‐type X‐ray diffraction pattern with spherical and dome‐like starch granules. Peak viscosity of SFP was relatively higher than that of SFF, probably due to lower swelling power and water solubility, which indicated increased granular rigidity in the SFP starch structure. Compared with SFF and SFP, PF had significantly higher onset (T_o), peak (T_p) and conclusion (T_c) temperatures due to a lower starch content and relatively higher fibre content, which resulted in lower gelatinisation enthalpy (ΔH).     

Effect of γ‐radiation and microwave heating of wheat grain on some starch properties in irradiated grain as well as in grain of the next generation crops

Grains of the Polish winter wheat variety Begra were subjected to γ‐radiation (grain harvested in 1996) within the dose range of 0.05–10 kGy and microwave heating (grain harvested in 1997) from 28°C to 98°C. Later the grains were divided into two parts, the first was used for direct analyses after treatment. The second part was sown on the experimental fields. The obtained crop was described as the first generation and divided into two parts. One part was destined to determination of starch properties and the second part was sown in order to obtain the second generation crop. The same pattern was conducted in order to achieve the third generation crop. γ‐Irradiation directly applied on the wheat grain reduced statistically significant falling number values and gelatinisation enthalpy (ΔH) of the grain treated by 5 and 10 kGy. Calculated linear regression correlation coefficient between the falling number values and the gelatinisation enthalpy was equal to 0.94 (p ? 0.001) and showed that these two starch characteristics are well correlated in the case of directly irradiated wheat grain. The falling number values, peak temperatures (T_p) and gelatinisation enthalpy (ΔH), in three generations of wheat grain crop studied, did not show any statistically significant differences as a result of indirect effect of γ‐irradiation. Microwave direct heating of wheat grain to 98°C caused a statistically significant increase in the falling number value and decrease in starch gelatinisation power expressed by the enthalpy of gelatinisation (ΔH). The statistically significant changes in the falling number values, slight changes in the peak temperatures (T_p) and enthalpy of gelatinisation (ΔH) were found in all three generation crops as an indirect effect of microwave heating.     

Effects of ball‐milling on the glass transition of wheat flour constituents

BACKGROUND: Starch and gluten, the major components of wheat flour, greatly influence the structural characteristics of food products made with wheat flour. The effects of ball‐milling on the change in the semicrystalline structure of starch granules to the amorphous state have been reported. However, the effects of ball‐milling of native wheat flour on physicochemical changes in wheat flour constituents have not been elucidated. Therefore in this study the effects of ball‐milling on the glass transition of wheat flour constituents were investigated. RESULTS: Crude gluten, non‐gluten proteins and separated starch were obtained from wheat flour ball‐milled for 0–10 h, and the glass transition temperature (T_g) of these constituents was evaluated. The T_g of all wheat flour constituents decreased with increasing ball‐milling time. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that changes in band position and intensity did not occur for gluten but did occur for non‐gluten proteins. X‐ray diffraction revealed decreased crystallinity and greater plasticisation by water in separated starch as the ball‐milling time was prolonged. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the ball‐milling process decreased the T_g of wheat flour constituents as a function of milling time. The decrease in T_g was probably due to changes in conformation of protein subunits in gluten and depolymerisation of the non‐gluten protein fraction. The information obtained here about the physical alteration of wheat flour constituents may enhance the ability to successfully use ball‐milled wheat flour in food applications. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Changes in flour gelatinisation of trifoliate yam (Dioscorea dumetorum) tubers after harvest

BACKGROUND: Changes in the properties of starch during postharvest hardening of trifoliate yam (Dioscorea dumetorum) tubers need to be investigated. In this work the starch gelatinisation kinetics of D. dumetorum cv. Yellow stored under prevailing tropical ambient conditions (0.98–2.32 kg vapour per 100 m³ airflow) for 0, 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days was studied using a 3 × 5 factorial experiment with three cooking temperature (75, 85 and 95 °C) and five cooking times (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 min). Samples were also evaluated for starch properties and gelatinisation temperature. RESULTS: Storage of D. dumetorum tubers caused starch damage. However, the starch gelatinisation temperature was between 70 and 75 °C irrespective of the tuber storage duration. The starch gelatinisation reaction followed first‐order kinetics defined by the relationship ln(1 ? α) = ? k_Gt. The gelatinisation rate was significantly influenced (P≤0.05) by cooking temperature and increased with tuber storage duration. The activation energy also increased with tuber storage duration. CONCLUSION: Although the gelatinisation temperature of D. dumetorum starch was not influenced by tuber storage, the starch gelatinisation process was affected by tuber storage duration, since tuber storage involved a greater need of energy for starch gelatinisation, which may be an effect of the postharvest hardening phenomenon. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

The impact of germination on the characteristics of brown rice flour and starch

BACKGROUND: In recent years, germinated brown rice as a functional food has received great attention with its improved sensory and nutritional properties. Particularly of interest are the high levels of γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) which can be obtained during germination. However, more studies are needed to fully understand the effect of germination on the physicochemical properties of brown rice. RESULT: Germination altered the chemical composition of brown rice, resulting in an increase in reducing sugar and ash content, and a reduction in amylose. Solubility, paste viscosity, transition temperatures (T_o, T_p and T_c) and percentage of retrogradation (%Retrogradation) were decreased, while swelling power and turbidity were significantly increased. Scanning electron micrographs indicated that starch granules from germinated brown rice became smaller and less homogeneous. Moreover, germination shortened the chain length of amylopectin and amylose molecules. CONCLUSION: This investigation provides information on changes in the characteristics of rice flour and rice starch during germination, leading to a better understanding on the chemistry of brown rice germination. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry