Effect of microbial transglutaminase on spaghetti quality

ABSTRACT:  To examine the potential application of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) on semolina dough properties and quality of raw and cooked spaghetti, the effects of various MTG addition levels on the solubility of proteins, SDS-PAGE pattern of semolina dough proteins, and textural and structural properties of raw and cooked spaghetti were investigated using semolina from a high-protein good variety (MACS 1967) and a low-protein poor variety (PDW 274) durum wheat. To increase the concentration of lysyl residues and possibly enhance the extent of cross-linking of protein matrix by MTG, a commercial soy protein isolate (SPI) was added at a level of 3% (w/w) in combination with MTG, and its effect on semolina dough properties and spaghetti quality was investigated. The addition of MTG significantly decreased the solubility of semolina dough proteins. SDS-PAGE results showed that with increasing levels of MTG, a progressive decrease in the intensity of the bands corresponding to molecular weight of around 66 kDa was observed. Protein cross-linking reaction catalyzed by MTG resulted in changes in dough properties, dry spaghetti quality, cooking quality characteristics, and microstructure of cooked spaghetti. However, the quality improvements were more evident in spaghetti from the poor variety PDW 274 than from the good variety MACS 1967. The results also showed the ability of MTG in the formation of heterologous polymers between SPI and durum wheat proteins to improve the quality of spaghetti samples.     

A survey of water‐extractable arabinopolymers in bread and durum wheat and the effect of water‐extractable arabinoxylan on durum dough rheology and spaghetti cooking quality

BACKGROUND: Information on the variation in water‐extractable arabinopolymers (WEAP) in durum wheat and their impact on pasta quality is limited. A survey of the content of WEAP in selected bread wheat varieties and durum wheat was conducted and the influence of water‐extractable arabinoxylans (WEAX) on dough and spaghetti quality was examined by fortifying low‐WEAP durum semolina with purified WEAX. RESULTS: Bread wheat typically possessed higher levels of WEAP than durum wheat, but the latter had a greater range. Purified WEAX was extracted from bread wheat cultivar Sunlin which possessed a high level of WEAP. The extract was used to fortify semolina (0.125–2% w/w) derived from durum wheat variety Tamaroi (low WEAP). Fortification caused a near linear increase in farinograph water absorption of approximately 12% over the range of addition, leading to dough weakening. Reduced cooked pasta stickiness was observed at all levels of WEAX addition. CONCLUSION: Increased WEAX content may be a means to improve pasta quality by reducing pasta stickiness. Durum wheat showed a wide range of WEAP contents, and this may well be exploited by developing cultivars with elevated WEAP levels. © 2008 Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales and Society of Chemical Industry.     

Effect of semolina and absorption level on extrusion of spaghetti containing non‐traditional ingredients

Specific mechanical energy (SME), mechanical energy, extrusion rate and temperature of extruded spaghetti were monitored to determine the effects of semolina, hydration level and non‐traditional ingredients on pasta extrusion using a semi‐commercial pasta press with a fixed screw speed of 25 rpm. SME transferred to the dough during extrusion and the temperature of extruded spaghetti were greater with strong than with weak gluten semolina and at low than at high absorption levels. When compared with semolina hydrated to 300 g kg^?1 absorption, SME transferred to the dough was 13 kJ kg^?1 lower for semolina mixed with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) bran flour, 47 kJ kg^?1 lower for semolina mixed with flaxseed (Linum usitativissimum L.) flour and 7 kJ kg^?1 lower for semolina mixed with wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum L.) bran. Weak gluten semolina, high absorption levels and non‐traditional ingredients reduced the mechanical energy required for extrusion more than they reduced extrusion rate. The target temperature for extruded spaghetti was 45 °C. The temperature of extruded spaghetti containing flaxseed flour was below 45 °C whereas the temperature of spaghetti containing wheat bran was above 45 °C, regardless of semolina type or absorption level. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of gelatinisation level, gum and transglutaminase on the quality characteristics of rice noodle

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of gelatinisation level, gum (locust bean gum, xanthan gum, 3%) and/or transglutaminase (TG, 0.5%) on quality characteristics of rice noodle. In order to improve the dough forming ability, rice flour was gelatinised at levels of 15%, 20%, 25% and 30%. Noodle samples were evaluated in terms of cooking loss, total organic matter (TOM), water absorption, swelling volume, maximum force, colour, sensory properties, pasting properties. Noodle sample with a gelatinisation level of 25% had better cooking and sensory properties. Gum and/or TG were added to this noodle formula. The noodle samples including xanthan gum had better cooking and sensory properties. TG caused a significant decrease in TOM. The samples including locust bean gum had significantly higher maximum force values. Xanthan gum caused decreases in some Rapid ViscoAnalyzer viscosity values of the noodle samples, while locust bean gum caused increases.     

INSTRUMENTAL TEXTURE and BAKING QUALITY of HIGH-FIBER TOAST BREAD AS AFFECTED BY ADDED WHEAT MILL FRACTIONS

The effect of bran type, level of addition, particle size, addition of wheat germ, as well as other additives like improvers and dough conditioners, on the instrumental texture and baking quality of high-fiber toast bread (white pan bread) has been investigated. the specific loaf volume decreased significantly (3.45 cc/g) when the bran level was raised to 30%, but at 20% bran addition, the specific loaf volume was superior to that of the control bread. the specific loaf volume of test breads remained higher than the control bread up to a level of 7.5% wheat germ addition. Additives like ascorbic acid (50 ppm) and sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (0.5%) further improved the baking quality of test bread samples. the objective texture values (measured as compression force, kg) indicated that the test bread with bran addition up to 20% and germ up to 7.5% possessed a softer texture (0.80 kg) than the control bread (1.02 kg). In comparison with control bread, the panelists gave higher sensory scores for all attributes of test bread samples containing up to 20% red coarse bran or up to 30% red fine bran. A similar trend in sensory quality of test samples containing up to 7.5% wheat germ was also observed. High-fiber toast bread made from white flour, equal proportions of coarse and fine bran at 20%, wheat germ at 7.5%, plus sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate at 0.5% levels, was found to possess softer texture and improved sensory quality than the whole wheat flour bread.     

Technological properties and non-enzymatic browning of white lupin protein enriched spaghetti

Spaghetti was prepared by replacing semolina with different amounts of lupin protein, in order to increase the protein content. A detailed investigation of the rheological properties of the dough and the cooking quality of pasta was performed in comparison to standard semolina spaghetti. Moreover, the effect of the addition of lupin protein on non-enzymatic browning was evaluated by measuring ε-furoylmethyllysine (furosine) and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde (HMF), which are considered useful indices of semolina quality and pasta processing conditions. Dried spaghetti fortified with 5% of lupin protein isolate has a colour and rheological features comparable with the semolina sample and also the behaviour during cooking results to be satisfactory. As far as the thermal damage is concerned, the furosine values of fortified spaghetti differ only marginally from standard pasta and the percentage lysine loss is quite small (ranging from 12.1% to 15.7%).     

Spaghetti cooking quality of waxy and non‐waxy durum wheats and blends

Quality attributes of waxy durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L), milled semolina and cooked spaghetti were examined and compared with those of two non‐waxy durum cultivars. With the exception of kernel hardness, wheat quality characteristics were similar for both waxy and non‐waxy durum. Compared with average values obtained for durum wheat grown in North Dakota (USA) during the crop year 2000, the values obtained for the wheat used in this study were equal or better for most parameters evaluated. Semolina extraction for all samples was lower than the 2000 average of 62.6%. The waxy lines had higher ash, lower speck count, similar protein quantity, lower wet gluten and stronger mixograph curves than the non‐waxy cultivars. Waxy durum semolina had higher lipid content, starch damage, stirring number and flour swelling values. Spaghetti made from waxy durum semolina had shorter cooking time, similar cooking loss and cooked weight and lower firmness values, which would be unacceptable by most standards. Spaghetti made from blends containing 20–80% waxy durum semolina were evaluated. Cooking time and firmness decreased and cooking loss increased as the amount of waxy semolina increased. Acceptable spaghetti was obtained using 20–40% waxy semolina blends, depending on the quality of the non‐waxy blending material. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of insoluble dietary fibre addition on technological,sensory, and structural properties of durum wheat spaghetti

Insoluble fibres are important in human health and disease prevention and can be incorporated into food. High fibre pasta prepared with bran is typically inferior quality compared to durum pasta. This study compared spaghetti prepared from durum semolina substituted with various amounts of either durum bran or germ (pollard) dried at high temperature. Pasta was evaluated for cooking properties, texture, sensory, fibre content, antioxidant status (AO) and in vitro starch digestibility to determine the dose producing acceptable quality. Pollard at 10% substitution had minimal impact on quality with higher AO and fibre. Above 30%, pasta had undesirable colour, sensory properties and higher starch digestion. Although bran substituted pasta had undesirable sensory and technological properties, especially at 30% incorporation, it does provide more dietary fibre and antioxidants than regular pasta and does not affect starch digestibility. Interestingly, a significant amount of AO was retained in the cooked pasta. The study illustrates the value of structural analysis to explain observed technological properties of the product with fibre inclusion.     

不同发酵基质的酸面团对酵母面团体系面包烘焙及老化特性的影响

应用分离自我国传统酸面团的区域特色乳酸菌--旧金山乳杆菌分别发酵小麦粉和小麦麸皮基质制成（小麦/麦麸）酸面团,研究了两种不同发酵基质的酸面团及其添加量对酵母面团体系面包烘焙及老化特性的影响。结果表明：与小麦粉制作的空白组面包相比,小麦酸面团可以明显改善面包的比容和感官品质;添加未发酵麦麸制作的非酸面团麦麸面包品质低于空白组,但引入麦麸酸面团（10%、20%、30%）后面包比容和感官评定得分均高于相对应的非酸面团麦麸面包。小麦酸面团和麦麸酸面团以及小麦麸皮均可以改善面包的老化特性,在相同贮藏期内,酸面团面包和麦麸面包的硬度增加量、水分迁移量和老化焓值都低于空白组,并且添加麦麸酸面团的面包其硬度和老化焓值都低于相对应的非酸面团麦麸面包。     

Dissipation of organophosphorus pesticides in wheat during pasta processing

For investigating the carryover of some organophosphorus pesticide residues in the cereal food chain from grain to consumer, a study was set up on durum wheat, semolina and pasta. Pesticide-free durum wheat was placed into a small-scale model of a commercial storage vessel and treated with pesticides (malathion, fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos methyl, and pirimiphos methyl) according to the raw material legislation of Turkey. The residue levels of insecticides were determined in wheat, semolina, and spaghetti produced from stored wheat at various time intervals during five months of storage. A multiresidue analysis was performed using GC equipped with an NPD. The confirmation was performed by GC–MS. The residue levels of insecticides in wheat exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for wheat. The storage period was generally not effective enough to reduce the residues in wheat to levels below the MRLs. Although a considerable amount of the insecticides remained in the semolina, spaghetti processing significantly reduced residue concentrations in general. Pirimiphos methyl was the most persistent of the insecticides and comparatively less substantial loss occurred during milling and spaghetti processing due to its physicochemical properties.     

Effects of barley flour and wheat bran supplementation on the properties and composition of Turkish flat bread, yufka

In this study, the effects of increasing levels of wheat bran and barley flour on dough properties and yufka quality were investigated. Yufka is a flat, circular, cream-colored unleavened bread commonly consumed in Middle Eastern countries. Flours of wheat varieties Gün and Gerek, flour of barley variety "Tokak" and Gerek bran mixture were used. Part of the wheat flours were replaced with barley flour at 10, 20, 30, and 40% levels and bran mixture at 5, 10, 15, and 20% levels. Yufka samples were subjected to sensory analysis for color and appearance, shape and symmetry, taste and aroma, mouthfeel and flexibility. Increasing levels of bran and barley flour caused slight decreases in all sensory properties. Detrimental effects of barley flour and bran on yufka properties were nearly the same. But all yufka samples were considered acceptable. It was observed that bran caused more changes in colors of yufka samples than barley flour. Yufka samples supplemented with bran had given lower L values and higher a and b values as compared to the barley flour added ones. In all samples, the effect of increasing levels of barley flour on residual #-glucan was found to be insignificant in both cultivars. As expected, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) values increased with increasing levels of bran and the changes in both cultivars were similar.     

Effect of Pleurotus eryngii Mushroom β‐Glucan on Quality Characteristics of Common Wheat Pasta

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of β‐glucan‐rich fractions (BGRFs) from Pleurotus eryngii mushroom powder on the quality, textural properties, and sensory evaluation of common wheat pasta. Pasta was prepared from semolina flour and common wheat flour by replacing common wheat flour at 2%, 4%, and 6% with BGRFs. Semolina flour showed significantly higher viscosities than common wheat flour samples. However, all viscosities, except the breakdown viscosity, were reduced with increasing percentages of BGRFs. Replacement of the common wheat flour with BGRFs resulted in a reddish brown colored pasta with a lower L* value and a higher a* value. The common wheat pastas containing up to 4% BGRFs were not significantly different from semolina pasta with regard to cooking loss. Addition of up to 2% BGRFs had no significant impact on swelling index and water absorption. The addition of BGRFs in common wheat flour had a positive effect on the quality of common wheat pasta and resulted in hardness values similar to those of semolina pasta. In a sensory evaluation, cooked pasta with 2% BGRFs had the highest overall acceptability score. In summary, the results showed that common wheat flour containing 4% BGRFs could be used to produce pasta with an improved quality and texture properties similar to semolina pasta.     

Effect of the Addition of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Flour on the In Vitro Digestibility of Starch and Undigestible Carbohydrates in Spaghetti

Abstract: Spaghetti is considered to be a slowly digestible starch food, a feature ruled by the particular physical properties of the product. Several studies have been reported to increase nutritional value of spaghetti, using legumes. We have studied the addition of common bean flour on the starch in vitro digestibility. Spaghetti was prepared with semolina and different concentrations of common bean flour (0%, 15%, 30%, and 45%, w/w). Proximate analysis, optimal cooking time, and cooking loss were estimated in crude spaghetti. Total, available, and resistant starches, indigestible fractions, and in vitro starch hydrolysis kinetics were accomplished in cooked spaghetti. Pasta with 30% and 45% of common bean flour showed higher values of protein. Particularly, the lowest cooking time was observed for composite spaghetti with 45% of common bean flour. There was a significant increase in cooking loss when common bean flour in the composite was added. Composite spaghetti samples with increasing common bean flour showed decreasing values of total starch but an important increase in the resistant starch (RS) level and indigestible insoluble fraction values. Plain pasta made with semolina showed the highest enzymatic hydrolysis rate, which decreased when common bean flour was added to the spaghetti. Spaghetti with a higher level of common bean flour was more slowly available, which may have positive implications for human health.     

Cooking behaviour and acceptability of composite pasta made of semolina and toasted or partially defatted soy flour

The effects of the replacement of increasing amounts of semolina with toasted or partially defatted soy flour on dough rheological indices and spaghetti quality were evaluated. The replacement caused the dough weakening and the increase of the tenacity-extensibility ratio. Due to the competition of soy proteins and starch for water, the substitution of increasing amounts of semolina was able to increase the optimal cooking time without significant changes of the ratio between the increase in weight or diameter and the weight or diameter of dry spaghetti (ΔP/P and ΔD/D) but with a significant slowing of the ΔL/L (ratio between the increase in length and the length of dry spaghetti) increase during overcooking. Around the optimal cooking time, the release of organic matter was higher in pasta made exclusively of semolina whereas the sensory response was similar for control and composite spaghetti. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between protein content of the flour mixtures or dough alveographic indices and the cooking behaviour of semolina-soy spaghetti according to non-linear regression models. In particular, both protein content and alveographic indices allowed to predict approximately 92-94% of the variation of cooking losses and, in a lower measure, the variation of bulkiness and elasticity of semolina-soy spaghetti.     

Microbial loads, mycotoxins, and quality of durum wheat from the 2001 harvest of the northern plains region of the United States

The 2001 durum wheat crop grown in the Northern Plains was surveyed for microbial loads, mycotoxins, and quality. Correlations among these factors were identified. Effects of cleaning, milling, and pasta processing on microbial loads and deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations were determined. Aerobic plate counts (APCs), mold and yeast counts (MYCs), internal mold infection (IMI), and internal Fusarium infection (IFI) were lowest in grain samples from Montana and highest in grain from northeastern North Dakota. DON and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) were not detected in samples from Montana. Nivalenol was not detected in any samples. DON in North Dakota samples ranged from none detected to 23 micrograms/g. 15-ADON was detected in a few North Dakota samples, with a maximum of 0.8 microgram/g. DON positively correlated with APCs, MYCs, IFI, damaged kernels, total defects, U.S. grade number, and tombstone kernel content and negatively correlated with test weight, vitreous kernel content, and kernel weight. APCs, MYCs, and DON concentrations were lower in semolina than whole grain. Processing semolina into spaghetti did not change DON concentrations. APCs for spaghetti were reduced 2.2 to 4.1 logs from those for semolina, whereas MYCs were reduced 0.1 to 1.7 log. Some APCs in durum flour and semolina were higher than certain industry specifications would allow, although other factors were acceptable. However, microbial loads in the spaghetti were all within specifications found in the available literature.     

Distribution of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in milling fractions of durum wheat

The effect of processing on mycotoxin content in milling fractions has been investigated in 10 samples of durum wheat contaminated with T-2 and HT-2 toxins at levels ranging from 97 to 5,954 μg/kg (sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins). Either naturally contaminated samples or samples artificially inoculated with Fusarium sporotrichioides under field conditions were used. A method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry coupled with immunoaffinity column cleanup was validated in-house for the simultaneous analysis of both toxins in a variety of matrices, including uncleaned wheat, cleaned wheat, screenings, bran, red dog, fine middlings, and semolina. Mean recoveries from samples spiked with T-2 and HT-2 toxins at levels of 100 μg/kg ranged from 85 to 107%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 14%. The milling process led to an increase of T-2 and HT-2 toxin contents up to 13- and 5-fold in screenings and bran, respectively, compared with occurrence in the uncleaned wheat; however, an overall reduction of T-2 and HT-2 toxins by 54% (RSD, 20%) and 89% (RSD, 3%) was observed in cleaned wheat and in semolina, respectively.     

QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF CORN NOODLES CONTAINING GELATINIZED STARCH, TRANSGLUTAMINASE AND GUM

ABSTRACT

Effects of gelatinized corn flour addition level (40, 60 and 80%), gum (locust bean gum or xanthan gum, 3%) and/or transglutaminase (TG, 0.5%) on quality characteristics of corn noodle were investigated. Gelatinized corn flour was used as a binder for remaining untreated corn flour (60, 40 and 20%). Corn noodles were evaluated in terms of cooking properties (cooking loss, total organic matter (TOM), water absorption, swelling volume and maximum force), color, sensory and pasting properties. Noodle sample containing gelatinized corn flour at level of 80% exhibited best cooking and sensory properties. Gum and/or TG were added to this noodle formula. Gum improved noodle quality in terms of some cooking properties. Improving effect of xanthan gum was more obvious. Covalent crosslinks catalyzed by TG caused significantly lower cooking loss and TOM values. Gums generally caused increases in Rapid ViscoAnalyzer viscosity values of noodles. Gum and/or TG show great promise in processing of gluten‐free corn noodle.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Celiac disease occurs in about one in 300 people in Europe. Lack of gluten in cereals that are safe for gluten‐free food causes major problems in dough processing and product quality. Technological difficulties in production and lack of awareness of number of celiac patients in need of gluten‐free products might restrict researches related to gluten‐free food. In recent years, various approaches to overcome the technological problems are arising. Searching for ingredients that have ability to mimic properties of gluten in production of gluten‐free food is the most common approach. We report herein beneficial effects of gelatinization, gum (locust bean gum, xanthan gum) and/or transglutaminase (TG) in gluten‐free corn noodle production. They have major improving effects in noodle quality and show great promise as a processing aid in bulk manufacture of gluten‐free corn noodle. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study investigating utilization of TG in gluten‐free corn noodles.     

Role of gluten and its components in influencing durum wheat dough properties and spaghetti cooking quality

Protein is an important component of grain which affects the technological properties of durum wheat. It is known that the amount and composition of protein can influence dough rheology and pasta quality but the influence of the major classes of protein is not well documented. The influence of the various gluten components on dough and pasta properties was investigated. The protein composition of durum semolina was altered by either adding gluten fractions to a base semolina or preparing reconstituted flours with varying protein composition. The effects on semolina dough rheology and spaghetti texture were measured. Published methods to isolate relatively pure quantities (gram amounts) of glutenin, gliadin, high molecular and low molecular weight glutenin subunits were evaluated and modified procedures were adopted. Reconstituted flours with additional glutenin increased dough strength while additional gliadin and LMW‐GS decreased strength. These changes did not impact on spaghetti texture. Results from using the addition of protein fractions to a base semolina showed that gluten and glutenin addition increased the dough strength of a weak base semolina while gliadin addition weakened the base dough further. Addition of HMW‐GS greatly increased dough strength of the base while addition of LMW‐GS greatly reduced dough strength. Again, these affects were not translated into firmer pasta. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

WHEAT BRAN (TRITICUM AESTIVUM): COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONALITY AND INCORPORATION IN UNLEAVENED BREAD

High fiber Chapathi, an Indian unleavened bread incorporating different levels (5–15%) of wheat bran to wheat flour was prepared and evaluated for acceptability and farinograph characteristics. Whole wheat flour, wheat bran and its differently milled fractions were analyzed for chemical composition and functional properties. The water absorption capacity of bran was slightly lower than that of flour and did not increase as a function of time. The bran incorporated doughs were difficult to knead and sticky with no change in rolling properties. Farinograph characteristics revealed an increase in dough development time and a decrease in mixing tolerance index as the level of incorporation of bran increased. Wheat bran incorporated products scored lesser for the sensory quality attributes than controls. The differences were statistically significant for products prepared with 10% and 15% bran and not significant for products prepared with 5% level of bran. It can be concluded that wheat bran can be incorporated up to a level of 5% for preparation of high fiber phulkas or chapathis without affecting sensory quality.