Effect of wheat flour characteristics on sponge cake quality

BACKGROUND: To select the flour parameters that relate strongly to cake‐making performance, in this study the relationship between sponge cake quality, solvent retention capacity (SRC) profile and flour physicochemical characteristics was investigated using 38 soft wheat samples of different origins. Particle size average, protein, damaged starch, water‐soluble pentosans, total pentosans, SRC and pasting properties were analysed. Sponge cake volume and crumb texture were measured to evaluate cake quality. Cluster analysis was applied to assess differences in flour quality parameters among wheat lines based on the SRC profile. RESULTS: Cluster 1 showed significantly higher sponge cake volume and crumb softness, finer particle size and lower SRC sucrose, SRC carbonate, SRC water, damaged starch and protein content. Particle size, damaged starch, protein, thickening capacity and SRC parameters correlated negatively with sponge cake volume, while total pentosans and pasting temperature showed the opposite effect. CONCLUSION: The negative correlations between cake volume and SRC parameters along with the cluster analysis results indicated that flours with smaller particle size, lower absorption capacity and higher pasting temperature had better cake‐making performance. Some simple analyses, such as SRC, particle size distribution and pasting properties, may help to choose flours suitable for cake making. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of Flour Particle Size on Quality of Gluten-Free Rice Cakes

There is a growing interest in developing gluten-free bakery products in recent time. In cake making, gluten network formation is not essential, but hardly any information exists about the influence of the gluten-free flour characteristics affecting the final cake product. This study analyses the influence of two different rice cultivars (short and long) with different flour particle size in batter characteristics (specific volume, viscosity and internal structure) and in sponge and layer cake formulas (volume, shape, texture and colour). During starch gelatinization, the finest flours (median particle size finer than 100 μm) increased their viscosity and reached the peak viscosity (RVA) later than the coarsest flours. Moreover, the finest flours gave batters with lower specific volumes but with an air distribution in smaller and uniform bubbles in both formulas. These flours also produced higher volume and lower firmness in sponge cakes and greater symmetry index both in sponge and layer cakes. The rice type also influenced batter and cakes characteristics but in a lesser extent. The different results obtained depending on the rice flour particle size, type flour and cake formulation indicate the need to define them both in industrial specifications and in research studies.     

Influence of quinoa roasting on sensory and physicochemical properties of allergen‐free,gluten‐free cakes

The objectives of this study were to determine pasting properties of non‐roasted (NR) and roasted quinoa (RQ) and to investigate the effect of RQ on consumer acceptance and physicochemical properties of an allergen‐free, gluten‐free cake formulation. Quinoa seeds were roasted at 177 °C for 15 (R15), 30 (R30) and 45 min (R45), and flours were analysed for pasting properties. Five cakes including a commercial chocolate cake (CCC) and cakes made with NR and RQ flours were evaluated for preference by fifty panelists. Quality parameters included colour, water activity, moisture content, firmness, weight and height. Peak and final viscosity increased with roasting time. The NR cake had the highest sensory scores for appearance, colour and texture. On flavour and overall acceptability, CCC was the highest. Regarding quality data, CCC, NR and R15 cakes had similar L* values, while CCC had the lowest a*, b*, a_w, moisture content and firmness values.     

Adequacy of wholegrain non-wheat flours for layer cake elaboration

Flours (white and wholegrain flours) from wheat, rye, triticale, barley and tritordeum were used to elaborate layer cakes. The pasting properties (RVA) and the water-absorption (doughLab) of flours were analyzed. The batter characteristics (density, G′, G″, tan δ, consistency and flow index), and the cake characteristics (cake volume, crumb and crust colour and texture after 1 and 7 days) were studied. A sensorial evaluation of the cakes was also performed. Wholegrain flours showed higher pasting temperature and water-absorption, but lower peak time and viscosity than white flours. Its batters showed lower density and consistency and higher G′, G″, tan δ and n values. Wholegrain cakes showed lower specific volume, symmetry, colour characteristics, and staling rate but higher initial firmness. Considering the different cereals, barley showed the most different behaviour in flour, batter and cake characteristics. DoughLab analysis was very interesting to understand the adequacy of flours to cake elaboration, since significant correlations were found between water-absorption and specific volume, symmetry and firmness. Little differences in the consumer test were obtained between wheat and non-wheat cakes. Wholegrain non-wheat cakes could be a good alternative to white flour wheat cakes, due to their adequate technological properties and their nutritional advantages.     

Use of wheat,triticale and rye flours in layer cake production

In this study, the capacity of obtaining high quality layer cakes from rye and triticale lines was analysed and compared to wheat lines. The samples were characterised considering grain hardness, flour composition and quality parameters as protein, pentosan, damaged starch, pasting viscosity and functional predictive test – solvent retention capacity test. Cakes were analysed in weight, symmetry, volume, volume index (VI) by measuring the height in different points of the cake, crust and crumb colour, crumb structure and texture. Wheat and triticale cakes showed similar characteristics. Rye cakes showed higher volume and lower weight than those with crumbs darker in colour, higher adhesiveness, springiness and resilience. The multiple regression analysis was used to develop an equation for cake volume index prediction. The best‐fit linear regression model was: VI = 14.75 – 0.14 × protein + 0.93 × water soluble pentosan – 0.27 × total pentosan. Despite the differences, high quality cakes can be elaborated with rye, triticale and soft wheat cultivars.     

Effect of the milling process on quality characteristics of rye flour

BACKGROUND: Most of rye flour is obtained by a gradual reduction system using roller flour mills, which generate different flour streams. The study of the different flour streams composition is necessary since it determines the flour quality and the flour uses. Four break streams and nine reduction streams were analysed for moisture, ash, starch, protein, damaged starch, falling number, amylose/amylopectin ratio, β‐glucans and colour. Mixing and pasting properties were also determined with a doughLAB and a Rapid Visco Analyser respectively. RESULTS: As the milling process advanced, moisture and starch content decreased but protein, ash, β‐glucans and damaged starch increased. The differences in composition are probably related to the effect of the roller mills and the increase in the contamination with bran. The absorption, development time, and pasting viscosity increased as the milling proceeded, in detriment of the peak time. The β‐glucan content was positively correlated to absorption, mixing tolerance index and pasting viscosity, and negatively correlated to peak time. CONCLUSION: Differences in composition, above all, in bran, showed different mixing and pasting properties in rye streams. The most different streams corresponded to the last streams in the break process, in the sizings and in the middlings. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Wasted bread flour as a novel ingredient in cake making

Bread is one of the most wasted products in both industry and retail. This study analysed the use of bread flour of various particle sizes (1000 μm, 500 μm and 200 μm) in different percentages for sponge formulations (10% and 20%) and layer cakes (10%, 20% and 30%). Viscosity, microstructure and density of batters, as well as specific volume, texture and colour of cakes were evaluated. The inclusion of bread flour change batter microstructure. Viscosity does not affect the sponge batters but it tends to increase in the layers, mostly in the case of finer flours. The specific volume is reduced in sponge cakes while hardness is generally increased, even with the lowest percentages of bread flour. In layers, this reduction in volume is only visible at the highest doses of flours below 500 microns with no changes in hardness.     

Navy Bean Flour Particle Size and Protein Content Affect Cake Baking and Batter Quality1

Whole navy bean flour and its fine and coarse particle size fractions were used to completely replace wheat flour in cakes. Replacement of wheat flour with whole bean flour significantly increased the protein content. The protein content was adjusted to 3 levels with navy bean starch. The effect of navy bean flour and its fractions at 3 levels of protein on cake batter rheology and cake quality was studied and compared with wheat flour samples. Batters prepared from navy bean flour and its fractions had higher viscosity than the cake flour. Reducing the protein content by addition of starch significantly lowered the viscosity of cake batters. The whole navy bean flour and coarse bean fraction cakes were softer than cakes made with wheat flour but had reduced springiness. Principal component analysis showed a clear discrimination of cakes according to protein. It also showed that low protein navy bean flour cakes were similar to wheat flour cakes. Navy bean flour with protein content adjusted to the level of cake (wheat) flour has potential as a healthy alternative in gluten‐free cakes.     

Studies of the quality of cakes made with wheat-lentil composite flours

Legume flours, due to their amino acid balance and their demonstrated nutritional benefits, are ideal ingredients to improve the nutritional characteristics of bakery products. We have studied the inclusion of lentil flour on layer and sponge cakes, and its effect on the characteristics of the batter and of the final product. The addition of lentil flours reduced the density of layer-cake batter but increased the density of sponge-cake batter. This effect was greater with the smaller flour-particle size. Adding lentil flour to the formula reduced layer-cake volume, symmetry index, cohesiveness and springiness and increased hardness. In sponge cakes, no clear tendencies were observed in volume or symmetry index, but the total substitution of wheat flour by lentil flour gave rise to harder and less cohesive cakes. The use of lentil flour with a fine particle size increased cake volume but reduced hardness, particularly in sponge cakes.     

Physicochemical and bread-making properties of air flow pulverized wheat and corn flours

The air flow pulverized grain flours were prepared from American wheat (AWF), Korean wheat (KWF), and corn (CRF) at 3 different grinding speeds, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 rpm. The effects of grinding speed on the physicochemical and bread making characteristics of resulting flours were investigated. Pulverization at low grinding speed produced the flour similar to those from conventional milling in particle size (80–100 μm). The higher speed grinding at 11,000 rpm produced grain flours with smaller particle sizes (20–30 μm) and higher amount of damaged starches. Accordingly, grinding speed increased water holding capacity, swelling power, and water solubility of the resulting grain flour, and also increased pasting properties. Gluten addition was needed for KWF (15% gluten) and CRF (30% gluten) to facilitate optimum bread making. The flour pulverized at high speed produced the KWF and CRF bread with the highest loaf volume and the lowest firmness.     

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     

Effects of Attrition Milling on Air Classification Properties of Hard Wheat Flours

Effects of attrition milling on yield and composition of air-classified fractions from fifth break and first middling flours of HRS wheat were investigated using image analysis to characterize flour particle size distributions. Roller-milled flours had high proportions of particles < 45 μ diameter but particles > 105 μm diameter constituted most of the flour volume. Attrition milling caused less starch damage than pin milling but increased the degree of reduction (<45 μm diameter), based on volume, from 10.3 to 100% for fifth break and from 6.9 to 100% for first middling flours. Two cuts on the air classifier produced a high protein fraction with high ash (30.5% protein, 41% starch, 2% ash, 14% moisture basis), which would have application as a gluten substitute in baking, and a medium protein fraction (14% protein, 66% starch, 0.65% ash) which could be blended into Bakers Patent. The major fraction of air classified middlings flour contained 6.5% protein, 77% starch and 0.3% ash.     

Effect of oat β‐glucan and its oxidised derivative on the quality characteristics of sponge cake

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of sponge cakes containing native oat β‐glucan (BG‐B) and its oxidised derivative with TEMPO (2, 2, 6, 6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidine oxoammonium ion) (Oxi‐B). BG‐B and Oxi‐B were substituted at 1% (w/w) into a formulation, and then the effects of BG‐B and Oxi‐B addition on the pasting properties of wheat flour and the physicochemical and textural properties of sponge cakes were determined. The pasting parameters of wheat flour were increased by BG‐B, whereas they were decreased in wheat flour with added Oxi‐B. The cake containing Oxi‐B had a lower volume, and a higher symmetry and uniformity than the BG‐B cake. The Oxi‐B cake exhibited smaller L* and b* values and a higher a* value than the control in crumb and crust colour. According to texture profile analysis, the BG‐B cake had increased hardness, chewiness and gumminess, whereas the Oxi‐B cake had decreased hardness.     

Effects of adding chickpea and chestnut flours to layer cakes

Chestnut and chickpea flours have interesting nutritional characteristics and can be incorporated into layer cake formulations. This study aims to evaluate the effect of incorporating mixtures of these flours with wheat flour in the elaboration of layer cakes. With this aim, layer cakes were elaborated with the three different flours. Mixes of 50% of these flours and a mixture of the three flours in the same proportion were analysed. Batter density, microstructure and viscosity, as well as the specific volume, texture and acceptability of layer cakes were evaluated. Chickpea flour reduced the batter density and increased viscosity compared to wheat flour, while chestnut flour reduced viscosity and did not clearly affect density. Although both flours produced layer cakes with lower specific volume, as well as less cohesive and springiness, the effect on specific volume was clearer in chestnut flour. With 50% of chickpea flour, it was possible to obtain layer cakes with the same specific volume and hardness as those made with wheat flour. Layer cake acceptability decreased with the reduction in wheat flour, regardless of the type of flour incorporated. No improved acceptability has been found when combining chickpea and chestnut flours.     

Studies on cake quality made of wheat–chickpea flour blends

Legume flours, due to their amino acid composition and fibre content are ideal ingredients for improving the nutritional value of bread and bakery products. In this study, the influence of the total or partial replacement of wheat flour by chickpea flour on the quality characteristics of two kinds of cake was analyzed. The effects of the chickpea variety and the kind of flour used (white or whole) were also considered. Volume, symmetry, chroma, and crust and crumb L^* diminished when increasing the amount of chickpea flour. The replacement of wheat flour by chickpea flour also induced an increase in the initial firmness but cohesiveness and resilience diminished, increasing the tendency to hardening. Among the studied varieties, Pedrosillano and Sinaloa produced cakes with the highest volume. Those varieties also gave layer cakes with the lowest firmness, gumminess and chewiness. White flours produced sponge cakes with higher volume and symmetry than whole flours. No significant differences, however, were observed in layer cakes between white and whole flours. In both layer and sponge cakes, white flour produced cakes with lower firmness, gumminess and chewiness than whole flours.     

Effects of particle size distributions of rice flour on the quality of gluten-free rice cupcakes

The particle size distributions (PSD) of rice flour and milling processes are important in making gluten-free products. The dry rice flour was prepared by grinding dried rice grains after soaking. Effects of PSD on the quality of rice cupcakes were investigated using the newly-developed rice flour. The flour properties passed through 80, 120, 160, and 200 (<180, <125, <95, and <75 μm) meshsieves, and batters and cupcakes prepared from their flours were analyzed. The PSD patterns showed two peaks containing cells and free starch fractions, in which the starch fraction peak intensity increased as a particle size decreased. While damaged starch, water binding capacity, solubility and lightness increased, crude protein and yellowness decreased as a particle size decreased. The final and setback viscosities increased as a particle size decreased. The specific volume of cupcakes was the highest in the cupcakes made with rice flour passed through under 95 μm. Hardness and springiness decreased as a particle size decreased. The air cell sizes decreased as a particle size decreased with homogeneity. Air cell homogeneity, volume, hardness, and softness of cakes determined by the different test, and appearance, texture, and overall quality determined by the preference test were all significantly different (p < 0.05).     

不同品种和粒度对米粉糊化特性及米蛋糕品质的影响

为研究不同品种和粒度米粉对米蛋糕品质的影响,选取粳米、籼米、糯米三个品种,分别制备80、100、120、140目的米粉。通过测定不同品种和粒度米粉的糊化特性、米蛋糕的质构特性和感官品质等,采用定性方法分析得出不同品种和粒度米粉对米蛋糕品质的影响。结果表明:随着目数的增加,米粉小颗粒受到的机械损伤增大,水分迅速蒸发,米粉的水分含量逐渐减小;小颗粒粉体更容易吸水膨胀,糊化温度逐渐减小。而衰减值和回生值逐渐增大,峰值黏度和最终黏度先增大后减小;随米粉目数的增加,米蛋糕的咀嚼性逐渐减小,而硬度和弹性逐渐增大,内聚性和感官评分先增大后减小;不同品种米粉的糊化特性、老化特性以及蛋糕品质等均存在差异,米粉粒度对蛋糕品质具有一定的影响。在过筛目数为120目时,蛋糕的感官得分达到最高。当米粉过筛目数在140目粒径较小时,质地过于松软,食用时咀嚼性差,口感欠佳,蛋糕品质下降。相比于糯米粉而言,粳米粉和籼米粉更适宜制作蛋糕,由粳米粉为原料制作的蛋糕品质更好。综上所述,过筛目数为120目的粳米粉更适合制作蛋糕。     

Flour mill stream blending affects sugar snap cookie and Japanese sponge cake quality and oxidative cross-linking potential of soft white wheat

The purpose of this research was to study the functional differences between straight grade (75% extraction rate) and patent (60% extraction rate) flour blends from 28 genetically pure soft white and club wheat grain lots, as evidenced by variation in sugar snap cookie and Japanese sponge cake quality. Functional differences were examined relative to arabinoxylan content, protein content, and oxidative cross-linking potential of flour slurries. Oxidative cross-linking measurements were obtained on flour slurries with a low shear Bostwick consistometer and considered endogenous oxidative cross-linking potential (water alone) or enhanced oxidative cross-linking potential (with added hydrogen peroxide-peroxidase). A 2-way ANOVA indicated that flour blend was the greater source of variation compared to grain lot for all response variables except water-extractable arabinoxylan content. Patent flours produced larger sugar snap cookies and Japanese sponge cakes, and contained significantly less total and water-unextractable arabinoxylans, protein, and ash than did straight grade flours. Patent flours produced more viscous slurries for endogenous and enhanced cross-linking measurements compared to the straight grade flours. The functional differences between patent and straight grade flours appear to be related to the particular mill streams that were utilized in the formulation of the 2 flour blends and compositional differences among those streams.     

不同粒径分布对全籽粒玉米粉糊化特性的影响

分析不同粒径大小分布对不同淀粉含量全籽粒玉米粉糊化特性的影响,为其品质分析和加工提供参考依据。选取淀粉含量66%~77%的玉米,通过小型实验磨研磨得到不同粒径的全籽粒玉米粉,研究粒径大小分布、主要成分、损伤淀粉等指标对糊化特性的影响。结果表明,玉米粉的粒径大小和分布对其糊化能力、凝胶特性影响明显,特别是小颗粒粒径大小影响明显,但对回生老化特性影响不显著。平均粒径和小颗粒粒径越小、颗粒表面积越大时,越容易糊化,峰值黏度也越大,玉米粉间糊化能力差异越显著,总淀粉越多、脂肪和蛋白越少也越容易糊化,峰值黏度也越大;小颗粒粒径越小、比表面积越大,凝胶抗剪切能力越差,玉米粉间凝胶特性差异越明显,总淀粉和损伤淀粉含量升高、脂肪和蛋白质降低,也降低凝胶抗剪切能力;粒径大小与分布对玉米粉回生老化特性影响不显著,总淀粉和直链淀粉增加、脂肪减少,提高凝胶回生能力。