A soluble fibre gel produced from rice bran and barley flour as a fat replacer in Asian foods

A hydrocolloidal fibre composite made from rice bran and barley flour, called Ricetrim, was found to have similar rheological properties to coconut cream. Coconut cream displayed a very narrow region of linear viscoelastic behaviour, both above and below strain values of 0.1%, the oscillatory shear modulus dropped sharply with increasing strain, indicating non‐linear viscoelastic behaviour. This region of linear viscoelastic behaviour extended to strains of 10%. When Ricetrim was substituted for coconut cream in Thai foods, it was found to produce acceptable products, but with lower saturated fat contents. Cookies, pumpkin pudding, layer cake, dip for pot crust, taro custard and sauté chicken curry were produced with fat contents reduced by 47.8, 94.3, 59.8, 75.3, 61.3 and 60.6%, respectively. Some differences in flavour and texture were observed at the higher levels of substitution, but these differences appeared to present only small changes in the overall score of general acceptability, or suitability, of the fibre gel foods. Scanning electron micrographs of the pumpkin pudding revealed only small changes in their surfaces with Ricetrim addition, even at higher levels of substitution.     

Influence of gluten-free flour mixes and fat powders on the quality of gluten-free biscuits

Studies were conducted to develop gluten-free biscuits comparable in quality to wheat (W) biscuits and superior to those made from commercial gluten-free flour (Gf), suitable for coeliac sufferers. Three mixes of brown rice flour (R), corn starch (C), potato starch (P), soya flour (S), buckwheat flour (B) and millet flakes (M) were studied: RCPS in the percentage 70, 10, 10, 10, RPBM (50, 30, 10, 10) and RCPM (25, 25, 25, 25). Biscuits were tested for water activity, moisture, texture (snap test), diameter, thickness and colour (L* value), biscuit dough for hardness and stickiness. Various correlations >0.8 indicated for the three mixes, W and Gf that firm, non-sticky doughs yielded firm, thin, non-oval biscuits. Cluster analysis revealed that RCPS was most similar to W with regards to all parameters measured, and RCPS also showed best overall acceptability in sensory testing. Three fat powders were studied for use instead of palm oil: high and low fat dairy powder (HFP, LFP) and microencapsulated high fat powder based on vegetable fat (ME). HFP and ME yielded biscuits of comparable texture to palm oil, LFP resulted in much firmer biscuits, attributed to lower fat and higher protein and total sugar content.     

Functional characterization of steam jet‐cooked buckwheat flour as a fat replacer in cake‐baking

BACKGROUND: With rising consumer awareness of obesity, the food industry has a market‐driven impetus to develop low‐fat or fat‐free foods with acceptable taste and texture. Fancy buckwheat flour was thus subjected to steam jet‐cooking and the performance of the resulting product in cake‐baking was evaluated as a fat replacer. RESULTS: Steam jet‐cooking caused structural breakdown and starch gelatinization of buckwheat flour, thus increasing its water hydration properties. In the pasting measurements, steam jet‐cooked buckwheat flour exhibited high initial viscosity, while no peak viscosity was observed. Also, the suspensions of steam jet‐cooked buckwheat flour exhibited shear‐thinning behaviors, which were well characterized by the power law model. When shortening in cakes was replaced with steam jet‐cooked buckwheat gels, the specific gravity of cake batters significantly increased, consequently affecting cake volume after baking. However, shortening replacement with steam jet‐cooked buckwheat up to 20% by weight appeared to be effective in producing cakes as soft as the control without volume loss. CONCLUSION: When buckwheat flour was thermomechanically modified by steam jet‐cooking, it was successfully incorporated into cake formulations for shortening up to 20% by weight, producing low‐fat cakes with comparable volume and textural properties to the control. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of enzyme‐modified carboxymethyl starch as a fat replacer on the functional properties of sausages

Enzyme‐modified carboxymethyl starch (ECMS), carboxymethyl starch (CMS), and enzyme‐modified starch (ES) were prepared and used as fat replacers in low‐fat sausages. The effects of fat level (5, 10, and 20%) and three modified starches (ECMS, CMS, and ES) on energy, color, texture, and sensory characteristics of sausages were investigated. The addition of three modified starches in reduced‐fat sausages reduced total energy and redness, and increased the lightness of the products. Except adhesiveness, ECMS had no effect on any of the textural parameters of sausages, but CMS or ES lowered any of the textural parameters at their respective target fat levels. The 10% fat sausage with added ECMS was similar to the 20% fat sausage control for overall acceptability. The results indicated that the new multiplex modified starch‐ECMS could be used as a suitable fat replacer since it offset some of the changes caused by fat reduction.     

Effect of emulsifiers,fat level and type on the rheological characteristics of biscuit dough and quality of biscuits

The effect of level and type of fat as well as emulsifiers on the rheological characteristics of biscuit dough and quality of biscuits has been studied. Increasing the level of fat from 150 to 250 g kg⁻¹ softened the dough, as indicated by a reduction in extrusion time from 108 to 18 s and an increase in compliance from 31.9 to 49.9%, while it reduced the development of gluten, as shown by a reduction in elastic recovery from 0.485 to 0.365 mm. Among the different types of fats used, hydrogenated fat produced the stiffest dough. Addition of any of the emulsifiers glycerol monostearate, lecithin or sodium stearoyl lactylate lowered the elastic recovery value, indicating their contribution to the shortening effect on gluten, and also resulted in a reduction in consistency and hardness and made the dough more cohesive. The maximum change was observed with sodium stearoyl lactylate. The density, breaking strength and compression strength of biscuits decreased, indicating an improvement in crispness, with increasing fat level. The thickness of biscuits was significantly higher when hydrogenated fat or oil was used in the formulation. Biscuits made with bakery shortening had better surface characteristics and higher crispness. Glycerol monostearate and lecithin brought about a greater improvement in the quality of biscuits when compared with sodium stearoyl lactylate. Studies indicated that emulsifiers in general had a greater beneficial effect, particularly in the case of biscuits made from medium hard wheat flour. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of taro (Colocasia esculenta) flour addition on the functional and alveographic properties of wheat flour and dough

BACKGROUND: Taro is a plant widely produced in tropical areas for its underground corms. Taro corms are highly perishable owing to their high moisture content. In order to limit post‐harvest losses and improve the production and consumption, production and utilization of taro flour have been envisaged. In connection with this, the incorporation of taro flour into wheat‐based products has been reported to increase their keeping quality. Before consideration is given to taro flour as a substitute for wheat in bread manufacture, it is necessary to characterize the functionality of the composite flour and dough. The present study investigated the physicochemical and alveographic properties of wheat–taro composite flour. RESULTS: Three varieties of taro flour (WCN, RIN and KWN) were incorporated into wheat flour in proportions of 10%, 20% and 30% (w/w) and the water absorption capacity (WAC), retrogradation index (RI), foam capacity (FC) and other functional properties were measured. In addition, characteristics of dough rupture pressure (P), extensibility (L), elasticity index (Ie) and strength (W) of flour made from the different composites were measured using an alveograph. The results showed that WAC significantly increased from 132% (wheat flour) to 156% (30% composite flour), while RI significantly decreased from 38% to a mean value of 22%. Principal component analysis revealed that WAC and P formed a group of variables negatively correlated with a second group made of RI, FC, W, Ie and L. CONCLUSION: Incorporating taro flour up to a level of 10% had no significant effect on the functional and alveographic properties of the flours. This suggested that in order to guarantee the quality of bread made from wheat–taro composite the level of taro addition should not exceed 10%. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigation of the potential for using inulin HPX as a fat replacer in yoghurt production

In this study yoghurts produced from full-fat milk (3.2%) and from low-fat milk (0.5%), with 0.7% and 2.7% added inulin, were compared. Inulin addition did not influence bacterial counts and acidity. Yoghurt from full-fat milk showed the highest values of apparent viscosity, followed by yoghurt with 2.7% of inulin. The sensory properties of the yoghurts differed mainly in terms of texture and taste. The highest scores were gained by yoghurt from full-fat milk, but yoghurt with 2.7% of inulin received only slightly lower scores. The results indicate that inulin has potential as a fat replacer in yoghurt.     

The effect of inulin as a fat replacer on the quality of low‐fat ice cream

The influence of different levels of inulin as fat replacer on the quality of ice cream was investigated. Inulin was added at 2, 4 and 6% to replace milk fat and the experimental ice creams were compared to a control with 10% milk fat. The chemical composition, overrun, water activity, viscosity, melting rate, hardness and colour value were determined. Sensory properties of the ice cream samples were evaluated during storage. The overall acceptability of ice creams prepared with 2 and 4% substitution were similar to the control.     

Inulin-based emulsion-filled gel as a fat replacer in prebiotic- and PUFA-enriched dry fermented sausages

In order to produce fermented sausages with prebiotic fibre and improved fatty acid composition, 16% of pork back fat was replaced with inulin gelled suspension (I) and inulin linseed oil gelled emulsion (IO). Physico-chemical analysis, fatty acid profiles, lipid oxidation, microbiological, textural, colour and sensory analysis were carried out. The fat content was lower in I (31.38%) and IO (35.36%) modified sausages compared to control (44.37%) (P < 0.05). IO sausages had lower SFA and MUFA and higher PUFA content with an improved n-6/n-3 ratio (2.23) (P < 0.05) and α-linolenic acid increment (5.74 g per 100 g). Reformulation led to decrease in springiness, chewiness and hardness and increase in adhesiveness of the sausages. Modified sausages had lower L* and higher a* values, while b* values of I sausages did not differ compared to control sausages. Modified sausages were acceptable regarding all sensory attributes. Lipid oxidation parameters showed higher susceptibility to oxidation and lipolysis in IO sausages.     

Wheat flour confectionery products as a source of inorganic nutrients: iron and manganese contents in hard biscuits

To evaluate some wheat flour based hard biscuits produced in Croatia with regard to their Fe and Mn contents and thereby their functionality, Fe and Mn are determined by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) in seven biscuits: classic white wheat flour biscuits and in dietetic biscuits enriched with whole wheat grain flour or whole wheat grain grits, soya flour and milk. Presented data show that Fe contents in seven analyzed biscuits range from 9.32 up to 24.80 mg/kg while Mn contents range from 3.76-16.37 mg/kg depending on type and share of cereal milling products and mineral content of other raw materials used. Thus, enriched biscuits produced from wheat flour type 850 and whole wheat grain flour, having the highest concentrations of Fe and Mn, were about 150% and 250%, respectively, richer in those elements in comparison with classic white flour biscuits of Petit Beurre type. Data show that wheat flour based hard biscuits, particularly enriched biscuits, can be considered as a good additional source of Fe and Mn in diets.     

Use of durum residue flour,a lower value product of durum milling,by incorporation into wheat flour dough without deterioration in baking quality

BACKGROUND: During the milling of durum wheat to semolina, about 10–15% of total products produced is residue flour, a lower value product than the semolina. This study investigated the potential for using the durum residue flour as an additive in bread‐making to improve its potential commercial value. RESULTS: Incorporation of residue durum flour from 102 breeding lines into a low protein flour and standard bakers' flour at 20% incorporation improved the bake loaf volume with minimal change in Mixograph dough mixing time and peak resistance in many of the lines tested. Loaf yellow b was always increased even with only a 10% incorporation. Baking flours can tolerate 20% incorporation with no deleterious affects on loaf volume and bake score. CONCLUSION: The results show a potential for using the lower value durum residue flour for baking bread of acceptable quality with a slightly higher yellow colour. This would improve the profitability for the miller and provide alternative ingredients to the baker for preparing specialty breads. Copyright © 2008 Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales and Society of Chemical Industry     

Non-linear creep-recovery measurements as a tool for evaluating the viscoelastic properties of wheat flour dough

Creep-recovery measurements were used to analyze the non-linear viscoelastic properties of wheat flour. First the effect of creep time, recovery time and shear stress was investigated on the non-linear viscoelastic properties of Bussard dough. The Burgers model was fitted to the creep and recovery curves. A linear increase of maximum creep compliance was observed with increasing creep time. On the other hand, maximum recovery compliance remained constant but an increase of the retardation time was observed which indicates a slower recovery. A recovery time of 10 min seemed to be sufficient to obtain most of the recovery. Maximum creep compliance increased proportionally with increasing shear stress until a plateau was reached. Maximum recovery was constant between 100 and 500 Pa but the speed of the recovery increased as shear stress increased. Finally, the optimised creep-recovery methodology was used to analyze the non-linear viscoelastic properties of 17 pure wheat cultivars. By applying principal component analysis, it was possible to identify three groups of wheat cultivars with similar rheological properties and bread volumes.     

Transglutaminase-mediated incorporation of whey protein as fat replacer into the formulation of reduced-fat Iranian white cheese: physicochemical,rheological and microstructural characterization

The effects of transglutaminase treatment (0–2 units/g milk protein) on the chemical composition, textural characteristics, proteolysis and yield of reduced-fat Iranian white cheese (milk fat: 0.4–1.4% w/w) incorporated with whey proteins (0–6 g/L milk) were investigated. Enzyme-mediated inclusion of whey proteins in the reduced-fat cheese caused a noticeable increase in moisture to protein (M:P) ratio with concomitant decease in the hardness rheological parameters of fracture stress and Young’s and storage (G’) moduli. However, increase in concentrations of whey proteins or/and transglutaminase enzyme above a critical level led to formation of a cheese matrix with lower moisture content and greater values of hardness indices. Whey protein addition and transglutaminase treatment resulted in the same trends of changes in proteolysis rate and cheese yield as in cheese softness. Response surface method (RSM) suggested that the enzymatic incorporation of 4.2 g deliberately added whey proteins to 1 L of milk (1.04% w/w fat) into the cheese matrix using 0.833 unit transglutaminase per gram milk protein would provide a reduced-fat product with the softest texture and the highest yield. The scanning electron micrographs showed formation of honeycomb structures in the protein matrix of the reduced-fat sample with optimum formulation.     

The effect of isomaltooligosaccharide as a fat replacer on the quality of nonfat kefir manufacture

The influence of different levels of isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) on the quality of kefir manufacture was investigated. Addition of IMO caused the kefir samples to decrease in whey separation and positively affected the texture of the kefir samples so that they had higher firmness values than the control. With respect to the organoleptic quality of the kefir samples, IMO addition caused a decrease in organoleptic scores: the control had the highest score, and the lowest score was observed in kefir samples containing 3 g/100 mL IMO. Overall, kefir containing 1% of IMO was similar in quality characteristics to control kefir made with whole milk.     

Wheat flour confectionery products as a source of inorganic nutrients: zinc and copper contents in hard biscuits

Cereal-based confectionery products being consumed through whole human life are considered mainly to be a source of carbohydrates, that is energy, although cereals are a rich source of minerals as well. To evaluate some hard biscuits produced in Croatia as a source of different trace elements in nutrition, in this study Zn and Cu contents were determined in classic wheat flour biscuits and in dietetic biscuits enriched with whole wheat grain flour or whole wheat grain grits, soya flour and skimmed milk. Zn was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS); Cu was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The results show that the Zn content in different kinds of biscuits ranges from 5.89 up to 17.64 mg/kg and the Cu content ranges from 1.15 up to 2.79 mg/kg depending on the type of wheat milling products and mineral content of other ingredients used. Enriched dietetic biscuits produced from wheat flour type 850 and whole wheat grain flour and/or soya flour and skimmed milk were almost 200% and 150% higher in Zn and Cu, respectively, in comparison to classic white wheat flour biscuits and can be considered as good sources of Zn and Cu in nutrition.