MEASURING CHARACTERISTICS OF FRANKFURTERS EXTENDED WITH SORGHUM FLOUR1

Inclusion of 2, 3.5 or 5% sorghum flour in frankfurters had no significant influence on pH, viscosity or thermal stability of batters. Water‐holding capacity was lower for batter containing 5% sorghum flour. The level of sorghum flour had no effect on proximate composition, mechanical, sensory or shelf‐life measurements. Leucine and isoleucine levels and saturation index decreased with the incorporation of 5% sorghum flour. Storage period at 6/pm 1C also had no effect on sensory measures of frankfurters. However, water activity and TBA values of frankfurters increased after 15 days of storage; no further increases were found after 30 days. Microbial colony forming units could be detected only after 30 days and did not increase further. Total volatile nitrogen did not increase until day 40 of storage. No interactions were found between level of sorghum flour and day of storage for any of the parameters tested. Up to 5% sorghum flour can be used in frankfurters without adverse effects.     

QUALITY OF NUGGETS PREPARED FROM FRESH AND SMOKED SPENT LAYER CHICKEN MEAT

Nuggets were prepared from fresh and smoked meats of spent layer chicken of age approximately 18 months, packed in polyethylene bags and stored at -18 ± 2C for 6 months. Thawed nuggets were fried on hot pan coated with refined sunflower oil and product quality was evaluated. Nuggets from smoked chicken had lower (P ± 0.05) moisture and higher fat contents and lower weight loss on frying compared to fresh meat nuggets. Free fatty acid (FFA expressed as percent of oleic acid) increased from 3.6 to 3.9 and 3.2 to 3.7, and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values (mg malonaldehyde/kg sample) increased from 0.90 to 1.19 and 0.63 to 0.71 for fresh and smoked meat nuggets, respectively, during frozen storage for 6 months. Shrinkage in product diameter on frying ranged from 4.6 to 5.0%. Warner-Bratzler shear values ranged from 0.89 to 1.28 lbs for all products stored frozen up to 6 months. Sensory quality scores for smoked meat nuggets were significantly (P ± 0.05) higher, except for juiciness (P ≥ 0.05), than for fresh meat nuggets. Smoked chicken meat produced better nugget products compared to fresh meat as indicated by lower FFA and TBA values and better sensory quality attributes. Products packed in polyethylene bags can be stored at -18 ≥ 2C for up to 6 months without marked deterioration in product quality.     

PRESSURE CONDITIONS AND QUALITY OF CHICKEN NUGGETS FRIED UNDER GASEOUS NITROGEN ATMOSPHERE

The potential for using nitrogen gas as a pressurizing medium in a deep‐fat fryer was investigated. Effects of different frying temperatures (150, 175 and 190C) and pressures (101, 163 and 184 kPa) on the fried food quality were studied. Chicken nuggets were either fried for a constant frying time of 240 s or at a constant core temperature of 70C in a modified restaurant‐type pressure fryer. Modifications were made to include external gases to pressurize the frying chamber. The quality characteristics of the fried products were determined. An increase in pressure applied during frying resulted in tender and juicier fried products because of the reduction in moisture loss. The increase in pressure reduced oil uptake by the fried products. Compared with the use of steam released from the food, frying under nitrogen gas provided similar or better quality of fried products in terms of moisture retention, juiciness and texture.     

雪花粉及其后路高筋粉的品质特性研究

以永良4号小麦的前路粉（雪花粉）和后路粉（高筋粉）为原料，通过拉伸仪、粉质仪、发酵仪、面筋仪等分析手段对前路粉和后路粉的流变特性、发酵特性、凝胶特性及成品品质特性、蛋白质组成、多酚氧化酶的活性等进行了研究，发现雪花粉具有高的蛋白质量，适当的麦谷／麦胶、直链淀粉／支链淀粉比例，表现出对不同食品的适应性。以及低的多酚氧化酶活性表现出来的稳定性，高筋粉具有高的蛋白含量和质量，较差的发酵特性。通过搭配国产优质小麦面粉，加入适当的改良剂，可以生产出高品质的面包粉，搭配面筋含量高的普通面粉，或小麦面粉可以生产出优质的油条专用粉。     

EFFECT OF ADDITIVES ON RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITY OF WHEAT FLOUR PAROTTA

Effects of oxidizing agents (potassium bromate [20 and 40 ppm], ascorbic acid [100 and 200 ppm] and potassium iodate [20 and 40 ppm]), reducing agents (potassium metabisulphite [100 and 200 ppm] and cysteine hydrochloride [50 and 100 ppm]), enzymes (fungalα‐amylase [10 and 20 ppm] and protease [10 and 20 ppm]) and dry gluten powder (1, 2 and 3%) on rheological characteristics of dough and quality of parotta were studied. Addition of oxidizing agents and dry glutenincreased values for farinograph stability, extensograph and mixograph areas, apparent biaxial extensional viscosity, compressive stress, hardness and cohesiveness, while reducing agents and enzymes decreased the aforementioned characteristics and increased force decay parameter and adhesiveness of the dough. Among the different additives studied, incorporation of 100‐ppm potassium metabisulphite, 50‐ppm cysteine hydrochloride and 10‐ppm protease increased the overall quality score of parotta.     

QUALITY EVALUATION OF REFRIGERATED CHICKEN WINGS TREATED WITH ORGANIC ACIDS

The effects of acetic acid (AA), lactic acid (LA), or citric acid (CA) dip treatments on aerobic plate counts (APC), Hunter color values, and sensory evaluation scores of chicken wings stored at 4C were assessed. Chicken wings were immersed in solutions containing 1% individual acids for 10 min. Exposure for 10 min significantly reduced (P < 0.05) APC on the surface of chicken wings for 12 days. AA had greater antimicrobial activity than LA or CA. AA treatment yielded lighter, less red, and less yellow colored wings than untreated controls. Odor scores of chicken wings treated with acids were lower than untreated controls, with AA giving better scores than the other acids during 12 days of storage. Appearance scores of acid‐treated wings were similar to controls throughout storage. Untrained panelists did not observe color differences suggested by Hunter color data. Treatment of chicken wings with 1% AA would be recommended over the other acids due to greater antimicrobial effect and more favorable sensory results.     

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FERMENTED SAUSAGE EXTENDED WITH CARBOHYDRATE MATERIALS

To reduce the production cost of fermented sausage, extension with a cheaper material was studied. Variables studied were pH, water activity, acidity, texture, color and volatile production. Starches added with gums (carrageenan and agar) produced abundant syneresis during storage whereas those made from amylopec-tin (Maicena^TM) and waxy corn (Firmtex^TM) were more stable. Syneresis was produced when pH decreased during fermentation from > 6.0 to 4.2–4.4. Sausages added with Firmtex^TMwere tougher, as expressed by less displacement of a PAM penetrometer probe. Sausages substituted with 24% Maicena^TM, when compared to a control, had significant differences with respect to pH, water activity, and color: L-values and a-values, but not in production of volatile compounds (diamines and free fatty acids) related to flavor and aroma. Therefore, it can be expected that, with the exception of texture, other characteristics of fermented sausages are not altered when extended with amylopectin starch.