Optimisation of resistant starch II and III levels in durum wheat pasta to reduce in vitro digestibility while maintaining processing and sensory characteristics

Foods with elevated levels of resistant starch (RS) may have beneficial effects on human health. Pasta was enriched with commercial resistant starches (RSII, Hi Maize™ 1043; RSIII, Novelose 330™) at 10%, 20% and 50% substitution of semolina for RSII and 10% and 20% for RSIII and compared with pasta made from 100% durum wheat semolina to investigate technological, sensory, in vitro starch digestibility and structural properties. The resultant RS content of pasta increased from 1.9% to ∼21% and was not reduced on cooking. Significantly, the results indicate that 10% and 20% RSII and RSIII substitution of semolina had no significant effects on pasta cooking loss, texture and sensory properties, with only a minimal reduction in pasta yellowness. Both RS types lowered the extent of in vitro starch hydrolysis compared to that of control pasta. X-ray diffraction and small-angle scattering verified the incorporation of RS and, compared to the control sample, identified enhanced crystallinity and a changed molecular arrangement following digestion. These results can be contrasted with the negative impact on pasta resulting from substitution with equivalent amounts of more traditional dietary fibre such as bran. The study suggests that these RS-containing formulations may be ideal sources for the preparation of pasta with reduced starch digestibility.     

Prediction of pasta drying process based on a thermogravimetric analysis

The drying process of durum wheat semolina dough was measured by thermogravimetry in the temperature and relative humidity ranges of 30–90 °C and 0–80%, respectively, in order to predict the drying process of pasta under any drying conditions. About 20% of the water was evaporated during the constant drying-rate period which has been ignored in previous studies. It is demonstrated that the constant drying-rate period should be taken into account in order to predict the drying curve with a high accuracy. The drying rate during the constant drying-rate period and the mass transfer coefficient estimated by the thermogravimetric analysis were expressed as functions of the temperature and relative humidity, and they were useful for predicting the drying processes of pasta under any drying conditions including the programmed ones.     

Effect of semolina replacement with a raw:popped amaranth flour blend on cooking quality and texture of pasta

The replacement of semolina (SEM) with raw:popped (90:10) amaranth flour blend (AFB) in pasta making at 25, 50, 75, and 100 g/100 g levels (flour basis, 14 g of water/100 g) was carried out to evaluate the effects on cooking quality and texture of the supplemented pasta samples. Significant differences on cooking quality characteristics and texture of the pasta samples were observed. The pasta solid loss increased, weight gain and firmness decreased as the AFB level increased. The semolina pasta showed the lowest solid loss (7 g/100 g) and the highest weight gain (188.3 g/100 g) and firmness (1.49 N), whereas the amaranth blend pasta was the softer (around half of the firmness of semolina pasta) and lost the higher amount of solids (11.5 g/100 g). The raw and popped AFB was suitable for increasing the nutritional quality through dietary fiber and high quality protein and even to obtain gluten-free pasta with acceptable cooking quality (solid loss of 3.5 g/100 g higher than that considered as acceptable for semolina pasta). The amaranth blend used in this study enables the partial or total replacement of wheat semolina in pastas with acceptable cooking quality and texture.     

Studying physiochemical changes in a new pasta product containing beef heart by vibrational spectroscopy

A new pasta product was developed by partially replacing durum wheat flour with beef heart to enhance its nutritional value. Physiochemical changes of the pasta were investigated by vibrational spectroscopy, namely Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. Relationships between pasta texture and the intensity of vibrational spectra were established. Lipid-protein complex formation, β-sheet arrangement, degree of polysaccharide polymerization, and cysteine thiol group were related to hardness and chewiness of pasta. The lipid portion and β-sheet structure were two significant parameters for explaining pasta adhesiveness, while pasta firmness might be related to β-sheet alignment and the polysaccharide network. Pasta cohesiveness might involve the α-helical structures and hydrogen bonding formation in the gluten network. However, no variable met the p < 0.1 significance level for inclusion into the model to explain pasta springiness. These results reveal that FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy could be employed to evaluate the physical chemistry of pasta and showed a potential use for quality assessment in pasta products.     

Development of a rapid, non-destructive method for egg content determination in dry pasta using FT-NIR technique

A quick, non-destructive method, based on Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy for egg content determination of dry pasta is presented. Multivariate calibration was carried out by using partial least squares (PLS) regression. A calibration set of 108 samples, a validation set of 22 samples and a prediction set of 11 samples of egg pasta were used. The diffuse reflection spectra of different types of pastas were measured by FT-NIR analyzer in the 800-2500 nm spectral range. The optimal results for egg content (root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 0.7; R² = 90.7, Rank = 4) were obtained when the spectra were subjected to the first derivation combined with multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) and smoothing. Egg content was determined from FT-NIR results by introducing a mathematical correction step.     

Furosine and flavour compounds in durum wheat pasta produced under different manufacturing conditions: Multivariate chemometric characterization

The headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique followed by GC/MS analysis was performed to evaluate the volatile fraction of durum wheat pasta produced under different process conditions (artisan manufacturing methods or industrial processes). At the same time, HPLC analysis was performed to quantify furosine in the same pasta samples. Furosine is commonly used as an index of nutritional damage occurring during pasta drying, although drastic thermal treatments may lead to its underestimation. Moreover, since furosine determination requires time/solvent-consuming methods, a more convenient approach could be the identification of volatile compounds formed during the drying step and detectable through simple and automated methods. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to experimental data in order to discriminate pasta samples according to their drying conditions. A limited number of volatile compounds including Maillard reaction and lipid-derived products (nonanal, hexanal, nonanoic acid, maltol and 2-furanmethanol) proved to be crucial in the differentiation of the samples. Therefore, these compounds could be used as pasta quality markers, alternatively to furosine, or as process markers to keep the drying treatment under control.     

The effect of varying fat content on the microstructure of Oaxaca cheese,a typical pasta filata cheese

The effect of varying fat content in Oaxaca cheese, a typical pasta filata, on microstructure was described. Microstructure of cheeses was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM) in nondehydrated and dehydrated samples. In nondehydrated samples, protein fibres were wide and compact in fat‐free cheese, and big serum channels were approximately 100 μm in width. Width of protein fibres and size of channels decreased as fat content increased. Small channels seemed to be occupied only by fat, while in big channels, water and fat were observed. LM both confirmed and supplemented the observations made by SEM, particularly the presence and distribution of fat in channels.     

The effect of the incorporation of grape marc powder in fettuccini pasta properties

Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the potentiality of grape residues to be used in the food industry. In the present work, the incorporation of 25, 50 and 75 g/kg of grape marc powder in fettuccini pasta preparation was evaluated over its cooking, nutraceutical and sensory properties. The results show that the incorporation of the dried by-product did not interfere in the water absorption and in the solid loss of the pasta after cooking. The addition of grape marc powder increased the total phenolic, condensed tannins, monomeric anthocyanin and compounds antioxidant capacity concentration in the cooked pasta due to the incorporation of polyphenols stemmed from grape. Sensory analysis showed that the incorporation of grape marc powder reduced the acceptance of aroma, aftertaste, flavor and appearance, regardless of the concentration of the dried residue added. Furthermore, the incorporation of 25 g/kg of grape marc powder presented the best overall acceptance, with lower changes of color, according to the CIELAB method. Based on the results, the addition of grape marc powder to pasta is an interesting alternative of use of this by-product, potentially reflecting on final product costs and representing an environmentally friendly way to manage industrial waste.     

Water dynamics in white bread and starch gels as affected by water and gluten content

Three levels of water (180, 220 and 260 g/345 g flour) and three levels of gluten (giving 11.2, 13.0 and 14.2 g protein/100 g flour) were used to study the effects of water and gluten on water mobility in white bread using ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry. Changes in the transverse relaxation time (T₂) were related to water mobility. The three water levels resulted in three different moisture contents in the finished bread (0.55-0.77 g H₂O/g solids). Distributed exponential analysis showed two distinct regions of T₂ (30-600 μs and 1-60 ms), associated with multiple domains of water in the bread crumb. There was no significant difference in peak T₂ values with different gluten content, but significant differences were observed with different moisture content. The results suggested that the mobility of water associated with starch decreased dramatically because of gelatinization. To further investigate the effect of gluten on starch gelatinization, NMR measurements were made directly on model systems containing starch and various gluten amounts. The starch-gluten gels had higher T₂ values than pure starch gels, indicating less swelling of starch granules and absorption of water. This was attributed to less water available to starch in the presence of gluten.     

Edible Japanese seaweed,wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) as an ingredient in pasta: Chemical,functional and structural evaluation

Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) is edible seaweed rich in fucoxanthin; whilst, pasta is an important dish from nutritional and gastronomic point of view. Pasta was prepared with wakame as an ingredient at different levels. In vitro antioxidant properties, total phenolic content, fatty acid composition, fucoxanthin and fucosterol contents formed the major bio-functional characteristics analysed. Pasta with 10% wakame was acceptable sensorially. The total phenolic content varied between 0.10 and 0.94 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g, whilst total antioxidant activity varied from 0.16 to 2.14 mg ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/g, amongst different samples. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radical scavenging activities of sensorily acceptable pasta were 7.71% and 4.56%, respectively. The sensorily acceptable pasta had a mild seaweed flavour with taste similar to control pasta, as assessed by panelists. The ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acid in seaweed incorporated pasta was 1:3.4 as compared to 1:15.2 in the control. Heat process involved in pasta preparation and cooking did not destroy fucoxanthin. Microstructure studies revealed the enhanced interaction between starch granules and protein matrix in pasta containing seaweeds up to 20%.     

半糯性粳稻的淀粉精细结构及其米粉/饭功能特性研究

以大面积种植的半糯性粳稻品种为实验材料,以糯性粳稻和非糯性粳稻品种为对照,通过分析半糯性粳稻米粉的糊化特性、米饭的质构特性、米饭/糊的水分运动性与淀粉精细结构之间的相互关系,揭示半糯性粳稻优质食味品质的形成机理.结果 表明:半糯性粳稻淀粉中直链淀粉质量分数约为10.08％,介于糯性粳稻和非糯性粳稻之间;其支链淀粉中含有...     

Bread staling: Effect of gluten on physico-chemical properties and molecular mobility

Three gluten enriched breads were produced (5% and 15% gluten samples where water was adjusted with farinograph determination, and a 15% sample with the same water amount of the control). The effect of gluten on bread staling (7 days) was evaluated, focussing on texture, amylopectin retrogradation, water status and ¹H molecular mobility.     

Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in egg salad and pasta salad formulated with mayonnaise of various pH and stored at refrigerated and abuse temperatures

This study investigated and modeled the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in egg salad and pasta salad as affected by mayonnaise pH (3.8, 4.2, 4.6, and 5.0) and storage temperature (4, 8, and 12 degrees C). At each storage temperature, L. monocytogenes was able to grow in both salads regardless of the mayonnaise pH. The lag-phase durations (LPD) of L. monocytogenes in egg salad ranged from 33 to 85, 15 to 50, and 0 to 19 h, and the growth rates (GR) ranged from 0.0187 to 0.0318, 0.0387 to 0.0512, and 0.0694 to 0.1003 log(10)cfu/h at 4, 8, and 12 degrees C, respectively. The LPD of L. monocytogenes in pasta salad ranged from 210 to 430, 49 to 131, and 21 to 103 h, and GR ranged from 0.0118 to 0.0350, 0.0153 to 0.0418, and 0.0453 to 0.0718 log(10)cfu/h at 4, 8, and 12 degrees C, respectively. The growth of L. monocytogenes was more rapid in egg salad than in pasta salad, indicating that a better growth environment for L. monocytogenes existed in egg salad. In both salads, the LPD decreased and the GR increased as the storage temperature increased. Mathematical models and response surface plots describing the LPD and GR of L. monocytogenes in both salads as affected by the mayonnaise pH and storage temperature were developed. The models confirmed that the growth of L. monocytogenes in egg salad and pasta salad was primarily promoted by higher storage temperatures and, secondarily, by higher mayonnaise pH. The conditions under which the models may be applied to estimate the growth of L. monocytogenes in both salads were identified.     

Analysis of water layers and the extent of gelatinization for commercial starch products

Water sorption characteristics were investigated using both the GAB and Smith models for commercial starch products to determine their involvement in the extent of gelatinization. The GAB monolayer water content, W_m, correlated well with the Smith parameter w_b, whereas the R² coefficient of W_m with the Smith parameter w′ exhibited a weaker correlation. The relationship between W_m and the multilayer water content, MC, could be expressed with R² coefficients greater than 0.840 and the ratio of W_m to MC was constant at 1:2–1:3, irrespective of variations in ingredients and sorption processes. Thus, the coverage of particular water binding sites is considered to be simple, despite the various components of commercial starch products. In addition, both W_m and MC may be involved in the extent of gelatinization: swelling capacity and viscosity were intimately involved in the early stage of gelatinization.     

The role of a low molecular weight glutenin fraction in the cooking quality of durum wheat pasta

Durum wheat glutenin fractions, composed of two low molecular weight proteins DSG-1 and DSG-2 (durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf) sulphurrich glutenin fractions) were extracted from semolina samples using a low concentration of Na tetradecanoate after extracting albumins, globulins and gliadins. DSG proteins have a high? SH plus S? S content. A highly significant correlation was found between the ? SH plus S? S content of this DSG-rich fraction and the cooking quality of pasta (0.63, P <0.01 with firmness and 0.86, P <0.001 with the state of the surface of the cooked pasta) and this seems to be a functional relationship. The use of acetic acid at various molarities showed the presence of high molecular weight glutenin fractions with differing solubility properties. In this respect, differences were found between varieties which are placed in the same group according to the classification of durum wheats based upon the composition of high molecular weight glutenin subunits.     

Water Redistribution and Structural Changes of Starch During Storage of a Gluten‐free Bread

The objective of the present work was to analyze molecular and supramolecular changes of bread starch and to relate bread firmness increase during storage with starch recrystallization and water hydration levels and migration in gluten‐free bread. At the studied conditions starch was in the supercooled region of the state diagram, at a temperature between T_g (glass transition temperature) and T_m (melting temperature), feasible to crystallize. The crystalline degree during storage was followed by the intensity increase in the X‐ray diffraction peaks. During bread storage, water migration occurred from the crumb towards the crust. Water amount and redistribution affected the kind of starch crystallites formed and firmness of aged bread. It was not the total amount of crystalline fraction that determined bread firmness, but the type of crystallites formed. These observations are a further evidence that bread firmness development and starch recrystallization, although being related phenomena, are obviously separate events.     

A comparison of flavonoids,carotenoids and vitamin C in commercial organic and conventional marinara pasta sauce

BACKGROUND: Characterising the levels of key phytochemicals in foods commonly consumed in the Western diet is critical for database development, estimating intake and assessing the potential health benefits associated with the consumption of these products. This paper describes a market‐basket evaluation of the key flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamin C in commercial organic (five brands) and conventional (five brands) marinara pasta sauces. RESULTS: Levels of ascorbic acid ranged from undetected up to 6.87 mg per 100 g fresh weight. The levels of total vitamin C in six of the ten samples were significantly lower than the amount listed on the Nutrition Facts Panel (P < 0.001 or P < 0.01). The contents of total vitamin C, flavonoids and lycopene were not statistically different between organic and conventional samples. Conventional pasta sauces demonstrated a significantly higher level of all‐trans‐β‐carotene (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This suggests that any beneficial differences in levels of flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamin C gained through cultivation practices are not measurable at the consumer level in processed tomato products. Additionally, the results point to a large disparity between the actual vitamin C content of these products and the content listed on the Nutrition Facts Panel. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Water mobility during renneting and acid coagulation of casein solutions: a differentiated low-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance analysis

Changes in water mobility during renneting and fermentation (acidification) of casein micelle solutions measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are presented. Casein solutions (native and ultra-high temperature or UHT-treated) were renneted and fermented directly in the NMR instrument to detect changes in water mobility due to the induced structural changes online. The data were analysed using a newly developed method capable of differentiating several fractions of water in terms of their mobility according to the T₂ relaxation times in four distinct ranges, that is, immobile, weakly mobile, mobile and very mobile. Whereas obvious changes in the water mobility take place during acidification, no changes in the water mobility during renneting were observed. This is explained by proposing a model building on different mechanisms of coagulation between acidification and renneting.     

Effect of a novel monoglyceride stabilized oil in water emulsion shortening on cookie properties

This paper investigates the use of a novel monoglyceride stabilized oil in water emulsion as a shortening alternative in cookies. We report on the effects of the monoglyceride stabilized emulsion on cookie quality attributes when compared to formulations containing all purpose shortening. Furthermore, the role of structuring and its effects on the monoglyceride stabilized emulsion functionality in cookies were determined by comparing quality attributes of cookies containing the structured emulsion to those containing the unstructured components of the monoglyceride emulsion. Cookie quality attributes measured included dough firmness, cookie break strength, cookie spread, surface colour, and textural shelf life analysis. Water mobility of cookie dough was also determined using proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance analysis. It was determined that the structured monoglyceride emulsion resulted in greater dough firmness, and decreased width and length values than doughs containing its unstructured components. However, cookies with all purpose shortening displayed superior quality attributes, as expected.