Relations between sensorial crispness and molecular mobility of model bread crust and its main components as measured by PTA,DSC and NMR

Consumer appreciation of brittle cellular foods, like bread crusts, depends on textural properties such as crispness. This crispy character is lost above a certain water activity. It is not known what exactly is happening in these crusts when water enters. So is it unclear whether it is the change in the starch or the gluten that initiates the loss of crispness with ageing time. In this paper the effect of water on the glass transition of model bread crusts was studied using two complementary techniques: phase transition analysis (PTA) and temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). The mobility of water was studied with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results were compared with sensory data. Bread crusts prepared with different types of flour were tested to evaluate the effect of flour composition on the crispness of model crusts equilibrated at different relative humidities. In addition the single flour components starch and gluten were studied. Sensory crispness scores decreased with increasing a_w from 0.55 upwards. At a_w 0.70 sensory crispness was completely lost. Both DSC and PTA showed a transition point at an a_w of 0.70–0.75. NMR gave a transition point in the mobility of the protons of water at a_w 0.58. This supports the hypothesis that loss of crispness starts as a result of processes at a molecular level, before the macroscopic glass transition. This also suggests that the presence of water that is not directly attached to the solid matrix causes the loss of crispness at low a_w. At higher a_w increased mobility of the macromolecules will start to play a role. NMR experiments with the separate flour components indicate that the T₂ transition point in starch samples occurs at a lower RH than for gluten. This could imply that starch loses crispness at lower a_w than gluten. Increased mobility of small components and side chains might induce increased energy dissipation upon deformation of the material resulting in less available energy for fracture propagation and with that in a less crispy product.     

Effect of high pressure treatment on thermal and rheological properties of lentil flour slurry

Thermal characteristics of high pressure (HP) treated lentil flour dispersions were studied as function of pressure level (350-650 MPa) and moisture content (14-58 g per 100 g of flour). Differential scanning calorimeteric (DSC) measurement of pressure treated lentil dispersions indicated incomplete denaturation of lentil proteins. The protein dentauration temperature (T_d) shifted with applied pressure and moisture content non-systematically. No starch gelatinization peak was detected during thermal scanning of lentil slurries (untreated or treated) irrespective of moisture content or heating rate. High pressure treatment of lentil dispersion significantly reduced the retrogradation behavior compared with that obtained from the thermally gelatinized sample. Dynamic rheological measurement indicated pressure treated lentil slurries exhibited a true viscoelastic fluid. Slurries gradually transformed from solid-like behavior to liquid-like behavior as function of moisture content and pressure level. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed insignificant change in amide band of pressure treated slurry. This study has provided complementary information of pressure-induced structural changes on both the molecular and the sub-molecular level of lentil protein.     

Water Binding of Wheat Flour Doughs and Breads as Studied by Deuteron Relaxation

Water mobility in wheat flour doughs and breads was investigated by deuteron relaxation using pulsed NMR. Water was replaced by deuterium oxide in dough and bread at different concentrations. Mixograms indicated that wheat flour associated more strongly with D₂O than it did with H₂O. Varying the D₂O:H₂O ratio of flour doughs had no effect on the longitudinal (T₁) or transverse (T₂) relaxation times of deuteron. Hard wheat and soft wheat flour doughs showed similar increases in T₁ and T₂ with increasing moisture content. Staling of bread crumb was accompanied by decreased T₁ and T₂, indicating an overall decrease in water mobility and increase in water binding. The decrease in water mobility of bread crumb with storage time was shown to be independent of reduction in moisture content.     

Nutritional properties of tempeh flour from quality protein maize (Zea mays L.)

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate physico-chemical and nutritional properties of tempeh flour from a quality protein maize (QPM). In comparison to untreated QPM, the QPM tempeh flour showed a higher (P?0.05) gelatinization temperature (81.7 vs 73.9 °C), and resistant starch (4.24 vs 1.9 g/100 g dry flour), and a lower (P?0.05) gelatinization enthalpy (1.94 vs 2.74 J/g) and total starch content (56.9 vs 62.6 g/100 g dry flour). The essential amino acids (EAAs) content of raw QPM flour was improved by the solid-state fermentation process. The contents of His, Ile, and Leu increased (P?0.05) in 0.81, 0.52, and 1.46 g/100 g protein, respectively. The total sulphur and total aromatic EAAs increased (P?0.05) in 0.55 and 3.45 g/100 g protein, respectively. In untreated QPM flour, the first and second limiting EAAs were Lys and Trp, with EAAs score of 0.72. First and second limiting EAAs in QPM tempeh flour were Trp and Lys, with an EAAs score of 0.84. The SSF process increased (P?0.05) nutritional indicators as follows: protein efficiency ratio (PER) from 1.78 to 2.10, calculated PER from 1.43 to 1.74, and protein digestibility corrected amino acid score from 0.55 to 0.83. It is concluded that based mainly on its nutritive value, fermented flour may be considered for the fortification of widely consumed cereal-based food product (tortillas, bread, cookies, atoles).     

Optimization of ingredients and baking process for improved wholemeal oat bread quality

Baking technology for tasty bread with high wholemeal oat content and good texture was developed. Bread was baked with a straight baking process using whole grain oat (51/100 g flour) and white wheat (49/100 g four). The effects of gluten and water content, dough mixing time, proofing temperature and time, and baking conditions on bread quality were investigated using response surface methodology with a central composite design. Response variables measured were specific volume, instrumental crumb hardness, and sensory texture, mouthfeel, and flavour. The concentration and molecular weight distribution of β-glucan were analysed both from the flours and the bread. Light microscopy was used to locate β-glucan in the bread. Proofing conditions, gluten, and water content had a major effect on specific volume and hardness of the oat bread. The sensory crumb properties were mainly affected by ingredients, whereas processing conditions exhibited their main effects on crust properties and richness of the crumb flavour. β-glucan content of oat bread was 1.3/100 g bread. The proportion of the highest molecular weight fraction of β-glucan was decreased as compared with the original β-glucan content of oat/wheat flour. A great part of β-glucan in bread was located in the large bran pieces.     

Milling behavior of hulled barley and its thermal and pasting properties

Eight commonly grown Indian hulled barley cultivars were studied for their dehusking, pearling, physico-chemical, β-glucan, pasting and thermal behavior. Milling of the hulled barley at 14% moisture significantly lowered the dehusking and pearling time as compared to milling at 10% moisture content. The extraction rate ranged from 55.05% to 62.35% and significantly (p < 0.05) differed among the cultivars. Particle size distribution of flours was significantly different among the cultivars with flour from RD-2552 and RD-2035 cultivars having the most even particle size distribution. The colour difference (ΔE) was not significantly different among cultivars. The extractable β-glucan content varied from 1.93% to 3.81% among the cultivars and was highest in PL-172. The final pasting viscosity was significantly different among cultivars while the pasting temperature did not vary significantly. The enthalpy (ΔH) of gelatinization of barley flour varied from 4.45 to 7.08 J/g and gelatinization temperature (T_p) varied from 64.23 to 66.26 °C.     

Some properties of corn starches II: Physicochemical,gelatinization, retrogradation,pasting and gel textural properties

The physicochemical, thermal, pasting and gel textural properties of corn starches from different corn varieties (African Tall, Ageti, Early Composite, Girja, Navjot, Parbhat, Partap, Pb Sathi and Vijay) were studied. Amylose content and swelling power of corn starches ranged from 16.9% to 21.3% and 13.7 to 20.7 g/g, respectively. The enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) and percentage of retrogradation (%R) for various corn starches ranged from 11.2 to 12.7 J/g and 37.6% to 56.5%, respectively. The range for peak viscosity among different varieties was between 804 and 1252 cP. The hardness of starch gels ranged from 21.5 to 32.3 g. African Tall and Early Composite showed higher swelling power, peak, trough, breakdown, final and setback viscosity, and lower ΔH_gel and range of gelatinization. Pearson correlations among various properties of starches were observed. Gelatinization onset temperature (T_o) was negatively correlated to peak-, breakdown-, final- and setback viscosity (r = −0.809, −0.774, −0.721 and −0.686, respectively, p < 0.01) and positively correlated to pasting temperature (r = 0.657, p < 0.01). ΔH_gel was observed to be positively correlated with T_o, peak gelatinization temperature and (T_p) and gelatinization conclusion temperature T_c (r = 0.900, 0.902 and 0.828, respectively, p < 0.01) whereas, it was negatively correlated to peak- and breakdown- (r = −0.743 and −0.733, respectively, p < 0.01), final- and setback viscosity (r = −0.623 and −0.611, respectively, p < 0.05). Amylose was positively correlated to hardness (r = 0.511, p < 0.05) and gumminess (r = 0.792, p < 0.01) of starch gels.     

Effect of gluten content on recrystallisation kinetics and water mobility in wheat starch gels

The effect of gluten on starch retrogradation at 5 °C was studied using ¹H NMR relaxometry. Gels were made from gluten and starch at 27.8 and 38.5% total solids and with gluten comprising either 10, 15 or 20% of the solids. Changes in the transverse relaxation time constant (T₂) were related to water mobility. Mono‐exponential analysis of relaxation curves showed that, in general, gluten retarded starch retrogradation. T₂ values in gluten gels also decreased during storage, but to a much lesser extent. Distributed exponential analysis showed that two distinct regions of T₂ were observed in all samples. During aging, the peak values of both regions shifted to lower values for all gels. Starch gel samples showed the most significant shift, and gluten gels showed the least. The three levels of gluten addition in starch/gluten gels produced similar shifts. For all samples the signal intensity of the less mobile region decreased more dramatically than that of the more mobile region during storage. It was suggested that gluten retards water loss in the granule remnants. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physicochemical and sensory properties of soy bread made with germinated,steamed, and roasted soy flour

For the development of healthful gluten-free soy bread acceptable to consumers, we evaluated the effects of various processing procedures for soy flour on bread quality, in terms of beany flavour and texture. We pretreated soy flour by both non-heating (raw:NS and germinated:GS) and heating (steamed:SS and roasted:RS) methods. In addition, to improve the loaf volume, we added 1% hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose (HPMC) to RS flour. Lipoxygenase activity was retained in the non-heat-treated flours (279 U/g for NS and 255 U/g for GS), but was significantly reduced in the heat-treated flours (106 U/g for SS and 69 U/g for RS). Moreover, heat-treated flour had higher isoflavone and ferric reducing antioxidant power than had non-heat-treated flour. However, RS flour had the lowest moisture content and lowest L^∗ value. The GS bread had the highest specific loaf volume (3.53 cm³/g), followed by NS (2.96 cm³/g), RS (2.25 cm³/g), and SS (1.81 cm³/g) bread. GS bread had the lowest hardness (1.53 N), followed by NS (1.65 N), RS (2.00 N), and SS (3.75 N) bread. The addition of 1% HPMC to RS increased the loaf volume (2.44 cm³/g), but decreased the bread’s hardness (1.80 N). As to the sensory properties, the bread with heat-treated flour was perceived to have a less beany odour and taste than was the bread with non-heat-treated flour. However, the latter had a better appearance than the former. These results indicated that soy flour pretreatment could enhance the loaf volume and reduce the beany flavour of whole soy bread.     

Quality parameters and baking performance of commercial gluten flours

Commercial gluten which is labeled in different ways, i.e., gluten, gluten flour, glutinated flour, is sold without any specifications. Breadmaking potential of commercial gluten was assessed by adding them in different concentration levels (6 and 50 g/100 g) to wheat flour. This evaluation was done by physicochemical analyses and subjective characterization. Protein content of commercial glutens ranged from 15.2 g/100 g to 75.2 g/100 g. Diastatic activity of glutinated flours was around 30% lower than the values of wheat flour, while this activity in gluten flours was 24 - 79% lower than wheat flour values. Direct correlation was observed between protein content of blends and loaf volumes: breads volume value increased with the percentage of protein in blends (r_s=1). Furthermore as the percentage of protein in flour blends increased (up to 17.5 g/100 g) scores for smell, crumb color, crumb grain, crumb texture and eatability improved. Breads obtained by incorporating 6 g/100 g of gluten flour or 50 g/100 g of glutinated flour to a wheat flour had the best scores. Breads containing the highest protein content (50 g/100 g gluten flour) were refused by taste panelists, however, after being sliced and toasted they were rated acceptable.     

Effect of water and guar gum content on thermal properties of chestnut flour and its starch

Thermal properties of chestnut flour and chestnut starch at several water content (40, 50, 60 and 95%, flour basis, f.b.) as well as the influence of guar gum (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%, f.b.) on both raw materials at fixed water content (50%, f.b.) were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermal properties of guar gum–water systems at several guar content (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%, w/w) were also obtained by DSC. Results indicated that the water content and the presence of guar gum had a significant impact on the thermal properties of chestnut flour and its starch. For each endothermic curve, the values of onset (T_o), peaks (T_p1, T_p2) and final (T₁) temperatures decreased linearly with increasing water content. Experimental data were successfully (R² > 0.997) described following the Flory equation. A reverse trend was observed in the enthalpy values. Thermal properties of chestnut flour and chestnut starch were suppressed by the presence of guar gum even at the lowest concentrations employed (0.5%, f.b.). The guar gum addition to the assayed systems promoted a starch gelatinization delay and the enthalpy values showed a threshold content above 1.0% of guar gum. Analyses of aqueous guar gum mixtures showed that the existence of a second transition in chestnut starch systems can be successfully explained by means of hydrocolloid–starch interactions, whereas in the flour other interactions should be taken into account.     

DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY OF STARCH12

At high water-to-starch (2:1) ratios a single endotherm was obtained for starch gelatinization. As the water-to-starch ratio was decreased the endotherm area decreased and the peak developed a trailing shoulder. At high water-to-starch ratios birefringence is lost over a temperature range of about 7°C. That narrow range increases to about 30°C at a low water-to-starch ratio. Starch and flour gave essentially the same endotherm initiation temperatures. In low-water systems the second DSC peak is much smaller with starch than with flour. It appears that in a starch system, water migrates during gelatinization. In dough, gluten limits that migration. As the level of sucrose was increased in a dough, the transition temperature increased and the gelatinization temperature range decreased. At the levels found in bread doughs both sugar and salt increase starch gelatinization temperatures.     

Changes in functional characteristics of starch during water caltrop (Trapa Quadrispinosa Roxb.) growth

This study was carried out to establish the changes of physicochemical properties of Taiwan’s water caltrop (Trapa Quadrispinosa Roxb.) starch at various stages of maturity during growth. Investigations showed that the dry matter and starch contents of water caltrop increased from 9.7% to 25.61% and from 49.4% to 79.4% (d.b.), respectively, as growth progressed (from 14th to 42nd day after fruit development). The shape of the starch granules was smooth, oval and poly-angular during the growth period. The granule size of starch increased with increase of physiological age, ranging from 19.4 μm to 32.2 μm. The X-ray diffraction patterns could be classified as a typical A-type crystalline structure. Swelling power and solubility of water caltrop starch increased with increases of growth time. Starches obtained from water caltrop at the early stage exhibited a lower gelatinization temperature (T_o, T_p, T_c) and gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) than did the late stage of maturity. The rapid viscosity analyzer (RVA) parameters suggested that water caltrop starch paste had a low breakdown, and appeared to be thermo-stable, at the early harvest time. The pasting temperature, peak viscosity, final viscosity and setback value of water caltrop starch increased as growth progressed. Different starch granular size and amylose content could be the major factors influencing starch physicochemical properties during maturity.     

Thermal and Pasting Properties of Microwaved Corn Starch

Corn starch with 15–40% moisture was irradiated at 0.17 or 0.5 W/g for 1 h using the sophisticated Ethos 1600 microwave apparatus that accurately controls temperature and wattage. Temperature of irradiated starch was measured during microwaving. Thermal and pasting properties were studied on dehydrated starch after microwave irradiation. Temperature increases were greatest during the first 10 min for starch at all moisture contents at both microwave power levels. Starch irradiated at 0.17 W/g had a temperature below onset gelatinization temperature (T_o) after 1 h. Higher temperatures were observed for starch with higher moisture content and microwaved at 0.5 W/g. Compared to native starch, starch with 15–40% moisture had higher T_o (measured using differential scanning calorimetry) and with 35–40% moisture had higher peak gelatinization temperature and lower enthalpy change of gelatinization. All paste viscosity parameters measured by the Rapid Visco Analyser were reduced and pasting temperature was elevated for starch irradiated at 0.5 W/g compared to native starch.     

Thermal properties and resistant starch content of green banana flour (Musa cavendishii) produced at different drying conditions

The objective of this research was to verify the effect of drying conditions on thermal properties and resistant starch content of green banana flour (Musa cavendishii). The green banana flour is a complex-carbohydrates source, mainly of resistant starch, and quantifying its gelatinization is important to understand how it affects food processing and the functional properties of the flour. The green banana flour was obtained by drying unripe peeled bananas (first stage of ripening) in a dryer tunnel at 52 °C, 55 °C and 58 °C and air velocity at 0.6 m s⁻¹, 1.0 m s⁻¹ and 1.4 m s⁻¹. The results obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves show a single endothermic transition and a flow of maximum heating at peak temperatures from (67.95 ± 0.31) °C to (68.63 ± 0.28) °C. ANOVA shows that only drying temperature influenced significantly (P < 0.05) the gelatinization peak temperature (Tp). Gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) varied from 9.04 J g⁻¹ to 11.63 J g⁻¹ and no significant difference was observed for either temperature or air velocity. The resistant starch content of the flour produced varied from (40.9 ± 0.4) g/100 g to (58.5 ± 5.4) g/100 g, on dry basis (d. b.), and was influenced by the combination of drying conditions: flour produced at 55 °C/1.4 m s⁻¹ and 55 °C/1.0 m s⁻¹ presented higher content of resistant starch.     

Formation of starch spherulites: Role of amylose content and thermal events

Commercial maize starches and potato starches of two cultivars differing in physicochemical composition (granule size distribution; amylose to amylopectin ratio) and crystallinity were heated to 180 °C and then cooled by fast quench using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), in order to produce spherulitic starch morphologies. Among the raw maize starches, waxy maize starch had highest relative crystallinity (49%) whereas a lowest crystallinity of 33–39% was calculated for high-amylose maize starches. Potato starches showed a relative crystallinity of 50%. The temperatures and enthalpies of gelatinisation and melting varied among all the starches. High-amylose maize starches showed higher transition temperatures of gelatinisation (T_gel), whereas waxy maize starch had lowest T_gel and enthalpy of gelatinisation (ΔH_gel). Similarly, a considerable variation in parameters related with crystalline melting (T_m1, T_m2 and ΔH_m1, ΔH_m2) was observed for different starches. The superheated gels of different starches treated using DSC were subjected to polarised microscopy, to confirm the formation of spherulites. Both the high-amylose starch gels showed the presence of spherulites exhibiting birefringence and a weak crystalline pattern. No birefringence was observed for waxy maize starch gel, while potato starch gels had some birefringence. The particle size distribution of high-amylose maize starch gels analysed through Zetasizer showed the sizes of spherulitic particles fall in the range of 300 nm–900 nm. The scanning electron micrographs of the dried high-amylose maize starch gels showed the presence of round spherulites consisting of several aggregated spherulitic particles. Amylose content and melting of crystallites during heating play an important role during recrystallisation of amylose (spherulite morphologies).     

In vitro starch digestibility,expected glycemic index,and thermal and pasting properties of flours from pea,lentil and chickpea cultivars

In vitro starch digestibility, expected glycemic index (eGI), and thermal and pasting properties of flours from pea, lentil and chickpea grown in Canada under identical environmental conditions were investigated. The protein content and gelatinization transition temperatures of lentil flour were higher than those of pea and chickpea flours. Chickpea flour showed a lower amylose content (10.8–13.5%) but higher free lipid content (6.5–7.1%) and amylose–lipid complex melting enthalpy (0.7–0.8 J/g). Significant differences among cultivars within the same species were observed with respect to swelling power, gelatinization properties, pasting properties and in vitro starch digestibility, especially chickpea flour from desi (Myles) and kabuli type (FLIP 97-101C and 97-Indian2-11). Lentil flour was hydrolyzed more slowly and to a lesser extent than pea and chickpea flours. The amount of slowly digestible starch (SDS) in chickpea flour was the highest among the pulse flours, but the resistant starch (RS) content was the lowest. The eGI of lentil flour was the lowest among the pulse flours.     

In vitro starch hydrolysis and estimated glycaemic index of bread substituted with different percentage of chempedak (Artocarpus integer) seed flour

Chempedak (Artocarpus integer) seed flour (CSF) was substituted for wheat flour at different levels (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% w/w) in bread. Assessment on the in vitro starch hydrolysis was carried out to evaluate the hydrolysis index (HI) and estimated glycaemic index (EGI) of bread substituted with different levels of CSF. Kinetics of in vitro starch hydrolysis in all bread samples (with the exception for white bread) indicated a gradual increase with respect to time intervals. Bread of 30% CSF exhibited significantly lower (p < 0.05) in vitro starch hydrolysis, as compared with the other samples. Results showed that HI value decreased significantly (p < 0.05) as the levels of CSF substitution increased. Resistant starch (RS) content in bread samples was inversely related with HI value as CSF substitution levels increased, thus lowering the EGI value.     

Bread fortified with dietary fibre extracted from culinary banana bract: its quality attributes and in vitro starch digestibility

The effect of fortification of dietary fibre (DF) on dough rheology, quality characteristics and in vitro starch digestibility of bread was studied. Bread was prepared incorporating DF (2–4 g per 100 g of flour mixture). Rheological study of dough showed an increase in dough stiffness and elasticity with higher incorporation of the DF. The results of chemical composition revealed that addition of DF increased total DF (19.65 g per 100 g) content of bread. However, incorporation of 2 g per 100 g DF of flour mixture with 66 g per 100 g moisture showed higher water retention and specific volume of 86.76% and 5.83 cm³ g⁻¹, respectively, which was close to control bread. Improved textural property with acceptable sensory attributes was observed for bread fortified with 2 g per 100 g DF of flour mixture and 66 g per 100 g moisture content. Incorporation of DF (2–4 g per 100 g of flour mixture) showed a decrease in rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and an increase in slowly digestible starch (SDS) content with lower predicted glycaemic index (pGI) than control bread.     

Yeast leavened banana-bread: Formulation,processing, colour and texture analysis

Banana powder (BP) was added to hard-red spring wheat (HRSW) flour intended for yeast-leavened bread formulation. Five different formulations containing 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% BP were prepared with varying amounts of base flour, while vital gluten was maintained at 25% in all blends. Based on the added BP amounts only, the prepared bread could deliver 42.87–128.6 mg potassium/30 g of bread (one regular slice) and 0.33–1.00 g of fibre. Although the dough water absorption was increased, due to BP addition, the dough mixing tolerance (MTI) decreased. The bread loaf volume was significantly higher than the control except for the 30% blend, where the loaf volume was similar to the control. Bread staling increased with BP levels due to the high sugar content but, this effect was limited to the first two days of storage. Blends exhibited darker colour due to the high sugar and protein, while the 25% and 30% blends had the lowest percent of freezable water. The amounts of acetic acid extractable proteins from the dry blends and the dough decreased with increase in BP. The linear rheological properties of the control, 10%, and 30% blends exhibited similar viscoelastic solid behaviour, where both G′ and G′′ had plateaus (G′ > G′′) and they were parallel to each other over three decades of the frequency. Blends showed higher moduli values than the control.