Quality and microbial stability of partially baked bread during refrigerated storage

Partially baked bread was prepared and stored at 1 °C or 7 °C for 28 days. Periodically, this product was subjected to moisture, hardness, and microbiological analyses. After storage, the baking process of part-baked bread was completed and product evaluated according to microbiological, physical, and sensorial tests, as well as hardness analysis. Part-baked breads stored at 7 °C showed mold growth at day ninth, while the product stored at 1 °C did not show mold growth through 28 days. The full-baked bread obtained from part-baked samples stored at 1 °C showed higher values of hardness and change in crumb hardness, and lower sensorial quality than bread from part-baked samples stored at 7 °C. Moisture content, specific volume, and width/height ratio in the full-baked bread were not affected by storage time and temperature.     

Effect of Baking Procedure and Storage on the Pasting Properties and Staling of Part-Baked and Rebaked White Pan Bread Crumb

In this investigation, the white pan breads were part-baked for 10, 15, 20 minutes at 230°C with and without calcium propionate (0.2%), were stored at room temperature (20°C) for 3, 5, 7 days wrapped with two polyethylene bags. After storage, baking time of part-baked breads was completed to the baking time of control breads (25 minutes). Breads were subjected to softness analysis and pasting properties of bread crumb were determined using the Brabender Amylograph. Addition of Ca-propionate decreased softness value of crumb of bread rebaked after part-baked, while the peak, holding end and cooling end viscosities increased. The increase in initial baking time resulted in a decrease in the pasting temperature and softness value and an increase in the bump area and viscosity of the rebaked bread crumb. Bump area, water activity, softness value and peak, holding end and cooling end viscosities of crumb of the rebaked bread after part-baking decreased with longer (intermediate storage) time. Peak viscosity and water activity significantly correlated with softness of bread crumb rebaked following part-baking and storage at room temperature. Rebaking bread for 10 and 15 minutes after storage of 3 and 7 days at room temperature resulted in softer crumb than the control group.     

Physical properties of breads containing hydrocolloids stored at low temperature. I. Effect of chilling

Different bread types, some of them containing also hydrocolloid stabilizers, were cold stored for evaluating the final quality of breads after storage. Dough (DB), semi-baked products (SB) and full-baked (FB) breads were used. After storage their physical characteristics were measured, data grouping was performed using PCA analysis and correlations among the properties measured were found. Fresh samples presented some similarities to DB or SB breads, but FB breads had a completely different behaviour. Crust characteristics were found to be important for the quality characterization of breads, as crust textural characteristics; its colour and moisture content were correlated to other properties. Furthermore, crust viscoelastic characteristics gave an indication of bread staling. Porosity was the only physical property not correlated to other bread characteristics. Differences were noticed according to the bread type before storage and the hydrocolloid used, but the main differences were determined by the baking stage before storage. Furthermore, hydrocolloids addition could result in different final bread properties according to the baking stage before storage. The crumb of FB breads was relatively viscous despite of hydrocolloid addition. Hydrocolloids seem to be more effective as stabilizers in DB and SB breads.     

Effect of baking conditions and storage with crust on the moisture profile,local textural properties and staling kinetics of pan bread

To investigate the impact of baking conditions on staling kinetics and mechanical properties, pan breads were baked at 180 °C/34 min and 220 °C/28.6 min using a ventilated oven and metallic moulds. After baking, bread slices were stored with and without crust at 15 °C in hermetic boxes for 9 days. This investigation provides a textural and physical analysis by examining the Young's modulus, crumb density and crust/crumb ratio during storage. In order to understand the relationship between firmness and moisture content, a moisture profile and a Young's modulus profile were determined during the storage of bread. To fit the staling, a first order model was used. It was found that the kinetics were faster for samples baked with a fast heating rate than for those baked with a slow heating rate. Moreover, the staling rate of bread stored with crust was faster than for bread without crust and the outer crust area staled more rapidly than the centre of the bread slice. These results suggest that the firming of the crumb is related to moisture distribution between the crumb and crust and to the impact of local baking conditions on local firmness.     

Different approaches for increasing the shelf life of partially baked bread: Low temperatures and hydrocolloid addition

Partially baked bread is a product with short shelf life that requires sub-zero temperatures for extending it. The storage of par-baked bread at low temperatures and the addition of bread improvers with antistaling effects, such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), are very attractive alternatives for extending the shelf life of these products. In this study, staling during storage of partially baked bread (in the presence and absence of HPMC) at low temperatures (2 °C) is studied in terms of hardness increase and amylopectin retrogradation. Simultaneously, the staling of the derived full baked breads when stored at 25 °C is assessed. During the storage of par-baked bread at low temperatures, progressive crumb hardening and rapid crystallization of the amylopectin chains were produced. However, heat applied during full baking reversed those processes, and the extent of that improvement was dependent on the time of par-baked bread storage. Concerning the staling of the derived full baked bread, the time of par-baked bread storage did not significantly (P < 0.05) affect the staling process of the resulting full baked breads. The addition of HPMC decreased the crumb hardness in both par-baked and full baked breads, and also promoted a reduction of the amylopectin retrogradation. Overall results indicate that HPMC addition significantly retards the staling of par-baked bread during its storage at low temperatures and, moreover, the same effect is observed in the full baked bread.     

The impact of baking time and bread storage temperature on bread crumb properties

Two baking times (9 and 24 min) and storage temperatures (4 and 25 °C) were used to explore the impact of heat exposure during bread baking and subsequent storage on amylopectin retrogradation, water mobility, and bread crumb firming. Shorter baking resulted in less retrogradation, a less extended starch network and smaller changes in crumb firmness and elasticity. A lower storage temperature resulted in faster retrogradation, a more rigid starch network with more water inclusion and larger changes in crumb firmness and elasticity. Crumb to crust moisture migration was lower for breads baked shorter and stored at lower temperature, resulting in better plasticized biopolymer networks in crumb. Network stiffening, therefore, contributed less to crumb firmness. A negative relation was found between proton mobilities of water and biopolymers in the crumb gel network and crumb firmness. The slope of this linear function was indicative for the strength of the starch network.     

Physico-chemical changes in breads from bake off technologies during storage

Quality of several bread specialties from frozen partially baked breads was assessed to define main quality features. Loss of crust freshness shortly after baking was also determined. Quality parameters that characterize bread crust and crumb were determined by instrumental methods in nine different (regarding to formulation and bake off duration) bread types obtained from frozen partially baked breads. Principal component analysis (PCA) allowed discriminating among bread specialties. Quality parameters that enable the differentiation of wheat bread types were crust mechanical properties together with specific volume, crumb hardness and structure. Crust flaking barely represented a problem in the studied types of bread. Crust mechanical properties were rapidly lost during the first 4 h after baking and the rate of the process was greatly dependent on the bread type. The force to promote crust fracture underwent increase up to 6 h after baking and those changes occurred in the Aw range of 0.50-0.74 or moisture content 9-15 g/100 g.     

Effect of hydrocolloids on gluten‐free batter properties and bread quality

The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of the addition of different hydrocolloids on gluten‐free batter properties and bread quality and to obtain information about the relationship between dough consistency and bread quality. Breads were made of rice, corn and soy flours and 158% water. Following hydrocolloids were added: carrageenan (C), alginate (Al), xanthan gum (XG), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and gelatine (Gel). Batter consistency, bread specific volume (SV), crumb analysis, crust colour, crumb hardness and staling rate were determined. Hydrocolloids increased batter consistencies: the highest value was obtained with XG, which doubled that of control batter, followed by CMC. Breads with hydrocolloid presented higher SV than control, especially with XG whose SV was 18.3% higher than that of control bread. A positive correlation was found between SV and batter consistency (r = 0.94; P < 0.05). Crumbs with Gel, XG and CMC presented higher cell average size. XG and CMC crumbs looked spongier. Breads containing hydrocolloid evidenced lighter crusts. Crumb firmness was decreased by XG and CMC addition, and staling rate was slower. Overall, XG was the hydrocolloid that most improved gluten‐free bread quality. These results show that, in formulations with high water content, batter consistency is strongly associated with bread volume.     

Effect of Initial Baking and Storage Time on Pasting Properties and Aging of Par-Baked and Rebaked Rye Bread

Part-baked rye bread with and without Ca-propionate (0.2 g/100 flour) were baked for 10, 15, 20 minutes at 230°C and stored at refrigerator temperature (4°C) for 10, 20, 30 days then second-baked for 5, 10, 15 minutes at the same temperature to give an oven-fresh end product. The effect of antimicrobial additive (Ca-propionate), part-baking, storage in refrigerator and rebaking on quality parameters such as yield of volume and crumb softness, water activity and pasting properties of rye bread crumb was evaluated. Addition of Ca-propionate increased bump area, while yield of volume and softness values of rye bread crumb decreased. The increase in initial baking time caused a decrease in the pasting temperature, water activity, and softness value and an increase in the bump area and viscosity of the rebaked bread crumb. Bump area and pasting temperature of rebaked rye bread crumb increased with longer (intermediate storage) time, while viscosity, yield of volume, water activity, and softness values decreased. A strong negative correlation was observed between pasting temperature and other parameters, which are bump area, peak viscosity, holding end viscosity, cooling end viscosity, and softness value for rye bread that was rebaked after part-baked and storing at refrigerator temperature. The re-baking rye bread after part-baking for 10 and 15 minutes and storage for 7, 14, and 21 days at refrigerator temperature gave softer crumb than the control group.     

Impact of sourdough fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum FST 1.7 on baking and sensory properties of gluten-free breads

Sourdoughs were produced from buckwheat, oat, quinoa, sorghum, teff and wheat flour using the heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum FST 1.7 and added to a basic bread formulation of flour from the same grain type (20 % addition level). Dough rheology, textural (crumb hardness, specific volume) and structural bread characteristics (crumb porosity, cell volume, brightness) of sourdough-containing breads were compared to non-sourdough-containing breads (control). Changes in protein profiles as analysed with capillary electrophoresis were observed in all sourdoughs. Furthermore, sourdough addition led to decreased dough strength resulting in softer dough. No influences on specific volume and hardness on day of baking were found for gluten-free sourdough breads. The staling rate was reduced in buckwheat (from 8 ± 2 to 6 ± 2 N/day) and teff sourdough bread (13 ± 1 to 10 ± 4 N/day), however, not significantly in comparison with the control breads. On the contrary, in wheat sourdough bread, the staling rate was significantly reduced (2 ± 1 N/day) in comparison with control bread (5 ± 1 N/day). Sourdough addition increased the cell volume significantly in sorghum (+61 %), teff (+92 %) and wheat sourdough breads (+78 %). Therefore, crumb porosity was significantly increased in all gluten-free and wheat sourdough breads. Shelf life for sourdough breads was one (teff and oat), two (buckwheat, quinoa and sorghum) and 3 days (wheat) and was not prolonged by sourdough addition. The inferior aroma of breads prepared from the gluten-free flours was also not improved by sourdough addition.     

Influence of the soluble fibres inulin and oat β-glucan on quality of dough and bread

Bread represents a suitable food product for the addition of functional ingredients, such as the cholesterol-lowering dietary fibre oat β-glucan and the prebiotic inulin. Therefore, these soluble fibres were incorporated into wheat as well as gluten-free bread, and their effects on rheological properties of the dough, on bread quality and on crumb microstructure were compared. The level of remaining β-glucan as well as its molecular weight was determined using an enzyme kit and size-exclusion chromatography. The addition of oat β-glucan resulted in a higher water addition level, whereas incorporation of inulin had the opposite effect. Rheological testing showed that the incorporation of oat β-glucan results in a more elastic dough. The baking characteristics mainly affected by fibre addition were volume and crust colour, with inulin increasing and oat β-glucan decreasing loaf-specific volume in the gluten-free breads. Inulin led to a darkening of the crust of both bread types, whereas addition of oat β-glucan resulted in a lighter crust of gluten-free bread. Oat β-glucan softened the crumb of gluten-free bread, but had the opposite effect on wheat bread. Inulin resulted in an increased crumb hardness as well as the rate of staling. Beta-glucan breakdown was more pronounced in wheat bread than in gluten-free bread. The results show that the use of β-glucan to increase the nutritional value of wheat bread is limited due to negative influences on technological properties. However, this soluble fibre is highly suitable for incorporation into gluten-free bread.     

Effect of frozen storage time on the bread crumb and aging of par-baked bread

The effect of frozen storage time of par-baked bread on the bread crumb and staling of bread obtained after thawing and full baking is described. The moisture content, hardness and retrogradation enthalpy of the amylopectin were determined in the par-baked bread and in the full baked bread after 7, 14, 28 and 42 days of frozen storage at −25 °C. In addition, the effect of frozen storage on the crumb microstructure was analyzed by cryo scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM). The moisture content of both partially and full baked bread decreased with the time of frozen storage. The crumb hardness of the par-baked bread after different periods of frozen storage was kept constant, while that of their full baked counterpart increased with the time of frozen storage. In both types of breads, the enthalpy of amylopectin retrogradation did not vary with the period of frozen storage. The staling, measured as hardness increase and amylopectin retrogradation, increased along the frozen storage. The changes observed on the frozen par-baked bread after thawing were attributed to the damage of bread structures produced by the ice crystallization, and the microstructure study support that conclusion.     

Effect of dietary fibre enrichment on selected properties of gluten-free bread

The enrichment of gluten-free baked products with dietary fibre seems to be necessary since it has been reported that coeliac patients have generally a low intake of fibre due to their gluten-free diet. In the present study different cereal fibres (wheat, maize, oat and barley) were added at 3, 6 and 9 g/100 g level into a gluten-free bread formulation based on corn starch, rice flour and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Doughs were evaluated based on consistency, viscosity and thermal properties. Results showed that maize and oat fibre can be added to gluten-free bread with positive impact on bread nutritional and sensory properties. All breads with 9 g/100 g fibre increased the fibre content of control by 218%, but they were rated lower than those with 3 and 6 g/100 g fibre due to their powdery taste. The formulation containing barley fibre produced loaves that had more intense color and volume comparable to the control. During storage of breads a reduction in crumb moisture content and an increase in firmness were observed. The micrographs of the crumb showed the continuous matrix between starch and maize and/or oat fibre obtaining a more aerated structure.     

Quality of wheat bread enriched with onion extract and polyphenols content and antioxidant activity changes during bread storage

We determined the effect of onion skin extract (OE) on the quality of wheat bread: contents of total polyphenols and flavonols, antioxidative activity and their changes during storage. With increasing doses of OE to bread, contents of total polyphenols and flavonols and the antioxidative activity were observed to increase. A higher total flavonol content was found in bread with 1% OE stored at 24 °C than in bread stored at 4 °C. There was no such relationship in the bread with 0.5% OE. Changes in flavonols content during storage for 72 h were insignificant. No clear trends of change in the antioxidant activity could be found at storage of breads. The addition of OE caused no changes in the yield and volume of bread and contributed to a decreasing value of L* parameter and to increasing values of ΔE, a* and b* parameters of bread crumb colour. Consumers accepted the smell and taste of bread with the addition of OE to a lesser extent than the control bread. Bread with 1% OE the taste was rated very low. Consumers rated the taste of bread with 1% OE low because it was bitter. Breads enriched with OE had a proper external appearance as well as crumb and crust features. Roasted onion aroma and taste were perceptible in the obtained breads. A bitterness was perceptible in breads baked with the addition of 1% of OE.     

In situ dextran synthesis by Weissella confusa Ck15 and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM 20193 and their effect on chickpea sourdough bread

This work evaluated, for the first time, the impact of in situ dextran (with different branching degree) produced by Weissella confusa Ck15 and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM 20193 strains on the technological properties of chickpea–wheat sourdough bread prepared with three levels of chickpea flour (20, 30 and 40 g/100 g). In addition Lactiplantibacillus plantarum F8 strain (not dextran producing) and a control without sourdough fermentation were used. Specific volume, crumb hardness and moisture content of breads were evaluated during six days of storage. At the increase of chickpea flour from 20 to 40 g/100 g in the samples, the lowest decrease in bread volume (15%) occurred when W. confusa Ck15 was used. Moreover, these breads showed the lowest crumb hardness at each chickpea flour percentage, 46, 80 and 98 N. Hence, in situ dextran synthesis by W. confusa Ck15 might counteract negative effects caused by gluten-free chickpea flour on technological properties of bread.     

Optimization of baking parameters of part-baked and rebaked Irish brown soda bread by evaluation of some quality characteristics

Summary  Part-baked Irish brown soda bread loaves with bicarbonate levels from 0 to 2.8 % were baked, packed and stored for up to 11 days at 5 C then second-baked at 180 or 200 C for various times to give an oven-fresh end product. The quality of the rebaked bread was dependent on characteristics of the part-baked bread, its storage conditions and the processing parameters of the second baking phase. Quality parameters evaluated were bread volume yield, crumb and crust firmness, moisture content and colour. Staling of the part-baked bread during storage at 5 C and the reversion of this process at 59 C was investigated with regard to rebaking time and temperature. Rebaking conditions were optimized by evaluating the core temperature increase in the centre of the bread. Immediately after the second baking phase a post-baking temperature increase was measured which allowed reduction of the in-oven rebaking time. The data were modelled mathematically using least squares analyses.     

A Study on Staling Characteristics of Gluten-Free Breads Prepared with Chestnut and Rice Flours

The effects of chestnut flour and a xanthan–guar gum blend–DATEM mixture on staling of gluten-free rice breads baked in conventional and infrared–microwave combination ovens were studied. Staling properties of the bread were assessed using mechanical compression (TA), differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Hardness, moisture loss, and retrogradation enthalpy values for all bread samples increased significantly during storage. FT-IR spectra showed that the integrated area of peaks around 1,041 and 1,150 cm^?1 wave lengths, which are related to the structure of starch retrogradation, increased with storage time. The X-ray diffractograms of aged breads indicated a B-type structure with the appearance of peaks at around 17°, 19.5°, and 22°. An additional peak at 24° was observed in breads stored for longer periods. Higher values of hardness and lower moisture contents were obtained for breads baked in an infrared–microwave combination oven, but the use of infrared–microwave combination oven did not result in excessive hardness after storage. Retrogradation enthalpies and total crystallinity values of breads did not show significant differences with baking type.The replacement of rice flour with chestnut flour and addition of xanthan–guar gum blend–DATEM mixture in formulations significantly delayed staling of gluten-free breads by decreasing moisture loss, hardness, retrogradation enthalpy, and total mass crystallinity.     

Impact of fibers on physical characteristics of fresh and staled bake off bread

The technological functionality of different fibers (high methylated ester pectin, resistant starch, insoluble-soluble fiber blend) was tested in partially baked breads stored either under sub-zero or low temperatures, in order to assess their possible role as breadmaking ingredients in bake off technologies (BOT). Fiber-containing formulations affected bread specific volume and crumb hardness, and those characteristics were also dependent on both the breadmaking process (conventional or BOT) and the storage conditions of the par-baked bread (low or sub-zero temperatures). The inclusion of resistant starch (RS) and fiber blend in the bread formulation induced a reduction in the specific volume of the bread and an increase of hardness. Crumb image analysis indicated that breadmaking process affected significantly the number of alveoli. The storage of par-baked breads at low temperatures accelerates crumb hardening during staling, and that effect was greatly dependent on the duration of the storage, being that effect magnified in the case of breads containing fiber blend. Therefore, formulations should be carefully checked with the specific breadmaking process to be followed. Special attention should be paid to the storage conditions of the partially baked bread, since they significantly affect the technological quality of fresh breads and their behaviour during staling.     

Improving Carob Flour Performance for Making Gluten-Free Breads by Particle Size Fractionation and Jet Milling

Many different raw materials have been proposed for producing nutritious gluten-free breads, but rarely, there is a parallel analysis of the effect of physical treatment on those ingredients. The aim of this study was to incorporate carob flour fractions of varying particle size on rice gluten-free breads prepared with carob/rice (15:85) flour blends. Carob flour particle size was controlled by fractionation or jet milling application. Quality features of gluten-free breads containing carob flour and commercially available gluten-free breads were compared. Carob flour addition led to breads with improved colour parameters, crumb structure, retarded firming and lower moisture loss compared to rice bread. Further improvement in specific volume, crumb hardness, protein and ash content and estimated glycaemic index (eGI) could be obtained by a careful selection of the particle size distribution of the carob flour. Carob breads prepared either with the coarsest or the finest fraction prepared using jet milling led to end products with the highest specific volume (≈2.2 g/cm³) and the lowest crumb hardness (≈5.5 N), although they had lower specific volume and harder crumbs than breads from commercial blends (≈3–4 g/cm³, 0.6–3.8 N). Nevertheless, rice-based bread made with the finest carob flour was superior considering its slower firming, protein content and lower eGI. The incorporation of carob flour obtained by jet milling in rice-based gluten-free breads led to end products with quality characteristics and sensory acceptance resembling commercial breads and high nutritional value.     

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.