Brewer’s spent grain as a functional ingredient for breadsticks

Brewer’s spent grain (BSG) was evaluated for its potential as a functional baking ingredient. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the microstructure of BSG and wheat flours. Baked snacks (breadsticks) were prepared using 15%, 25% and 35% BSG and evaluated for their baking quality and fibre and protein content (over a period of 3 months). The addition of BSG altered the baking characteristics of the breadsticks by affecting their structure and texture. The snacks appeared to lack in cellular structure and crispiness. However, they had quite a stable shelf‐life, as changes in texture, moisture and a_w progressed at a low rate. Addition of 25% and 35% BSG significantly increased the protein content of the snacks, and addition of 15% BSG more than doubled the content of dietary fibre in the samples.     

Fundamental rheological and textural properties of doughs and breads produced from milled pearled barley flour

Barley has long been known as a good source of fibre and in particular beta-glucan, but increased consumer awareness has meant that this is only now being exploited by food scientists and the food industry. In this study, doughs and breads were produced using pearled barley flour (PBF) in different ratios (30, 50, 70 and 100%) to wheat flour. A 100% wheat flour formulation was used as a control. The flour formulations were evaluated for protein content; the dough rheological properties of the formulations were evaluated using fundamental oscillatory tests and uniaxial extension tests. The baked breads were evaluated for volume, texture, moisture, dietary fibre and beta-glucan. Digital image analysis of the crumb grain was also carried out. Protein analysis revealed that increasing the amount of PBF in the formulation leads to a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the protein content of the formulation. Starch pasting properties were also affected by an increase in PBF concentration, with an increase in PBF significantly increasing the peak viscosity, breakdown, setback and final viscosity of the starch slurries of the formulations. Extensional rheology revealed that increasing the PBF in the doughs leads to the doughs rupturing at lower extensions and with a lower force. Bread volume between treatments was found to be significantly (p ≤ 0.001) different, with an increase in PBF inclusion leading to smaller loaves. Texture profile analysis of the bread slices showed that breads containing higher ratios of PBF had a significantly harder (p ≤ 0.001) and less cohesive (p ≤ 0.001) crumb. Low levels of PBF (≤50%) did not significantly effect loaf volume or crumb texture, however, and the total dietary fibre and beta-glucan levels of the loaves were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.001) with increasing levels of PBF in the formulation, even at low levels of inclusion.     

Barley for Brewing: Characteristic Changes during Malting,Brewing and Applications of its By‐Products

ABSTRACT: Barley is the basic raw material for brewing. Its chemical composition, brewing, and technological indices are highly determinative for the beer quality and the economical efficiency of the brewing process. Barley is rich in protein, carbohydrates, dietary fibers, minerals, and vitamins. The presence of nonstarch polysaccharides as mixed linkage (1‐3),(1‐4)‐β‐d ‐glucans and arabinoxylans together with the enzymes are responsible for barley modification. Malting is a complex process that involves many enzymes; important ones are α‐amylase, β‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, and limit dextrinase. During the process of malting and brewing, the by‐products left after separation of the wort are rich in protein, fibers, arabinoxylans, and β‐glucan. This review summarizes and integrates barley grain with respect to nutritional, functional, and compositional changes that take place during malting and brewing. It also explores in‐depth the several by‐products obtained after brewing and their potential for various food applications. Barley brewing by‐products offer an opportunity for cereal‐based baked and extruded products with acceptable sensory and nutritional characteristics.     

Increasing the health benefits of bread: Assessment of the physical and sensory qualities of bread formulated using a renin inhibitory Palmaria palmata protein hydrolysate

This study examined the textural and sensory effects of bread formulated using a Palmaria palmata protein hydrolysate with in vitro renin inhibitory properties. Four formulations were examined; a wheat flour control bread, a control bread containing 4% P. palmata protein hydrolysate, a buckwheat bread consisting of a blend of 70% wheat: 30% buckwheat, and a fourth formulation of the buckwheat bread containing 4% P. palmata hydrolysate. The volume, colour, texture profile, moisture, crumb structure, sensory attributes and renin inhibitory activity of all four baked breads are presented. Bright field light microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy images using a new triple labelling protocol were also obtained to visualise the main ingredients of the breads. It was observed that the addition of 4% P. palmata protein hydrolysate to the wheat bread control did not affect the texture or sensory properties of the bread to a large degree. Furthermore, when compared to the control, the bread containing the hydrolysate retained renin inhibitory bioactivity after the baking process. This study highlights that baked products may be a suitable delivery vehicle for bioactive compounds. The study demonstrates that the health value of bread was increased through the addition of a seaweed protein hydrolysate.     

Energy use and appliance ownership in Ireland

This paper examines household energy use and appliance ownership in Ireland. Logit regression analyses on a large micro-dataset reveal how household characteristics can help explain the ownership of energy using appliances. Using OLS regression models, we explore the factors affecting residential energy demand conditional on appliance ownership. Results suggest that the methods of space and water heating employed by a household are even more important than electrical appliances in explaining domestic energy usage. However, the stock of appliances must be included in such models so that results will not be biased. The methods employed in this paper can be easily adopted for studies of household energy use in other countries where household expenditure survey data are available.     

Chemical composition and microstructure of milled barley fractions

Wholegrain barley and peeled and pearled barley were roller milled in a Bühler mill, each producing three fractions: endosperm, middlings and bran. These fractions were compared and contrasted with one another and also with milled wheat fractions. Barley endosperm had the highest total starch content in both wholegrain and peeled and pearled barley. Amylose-to-amylopectin ratios (Am:Ap) were higher in barley flours than in wheat flours (P < 0.001). Peeled and pearled barley grain had lower soluble and insoluble fibre contents in all fractions, with wholegrain barley bran in particular having significantly more fibre than that of peeled and pearled barley bran (P < 0.001). The protein contents of the fractions of both barley types did not differ significantly. The endosperm had the lowest protein content, with the bran and middling fractions having double the protein content of the endosperm fraction. The total amino acid concentrations of the fractions followed a similar pattern, the total amino acid concentrations being lower in the endosperm fractions than in the bran and in the middlings fractions. These findings suggest that both types of barley fractions differed essentially from those of wheat. Pearling has a greater effect on the middlings and bran fractions than on the endosperm. The majority of these differences may not be significant enough to impact on the baking qualities of breads made using these fractions.     

Glycemic impact and health: new horizons in white bread formulations

The challenge of provision of a much wider range of foods of relatively low glycemic response than is currently available, especially in terms of cereal products, has been highlighted in recent years and this has particular relevance to bread consumption. Although there has been some transition to brown bread consumption, white bread remains a firm feature in the typical average western diet. This review first outlines the relationship between the glycemic impact of foods and health. What is important is that relatively small differences in glycemic potency of regularly consumed starch foods have been shown to have beneficial effects on health outcomes. Second, factors affecting glycemic response with particular application to white bread formulations are discussed. Novel ways of reformulating this highly favored carbohydrate staple, by using composite flours, with the aim of developing products of reduced glycemic response are highlighted in this review. Importantly, a new and significant focus on the role of unavailable carbohydrate in glycemic improvement is emerging. This has important application in increasing accessibility to health benefits by contributing to the prevention of and management of glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and associated chronic disease to a wider range of consumers.     

An estimate of the value of lost load for Ireland

This paper estimates the value of short term lost load in the all island electricity market, which includes the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The value of lost load (VoLL) is the average willingness of electricity consumers to pay to avoid an additional period without power. VoLL is also known as the value of security of electricity supply and is inferred using a production function approach. Detailed electricity use data for the Republic of Ireland allows us to estimate the value of lost load by time of day, time of week and type of user. We find that the value of lost load is highest in the residential sector in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our results can be used to advise policy decisions in the case of supply outages and to encourage optimum supply security. In the context of this study short term is taken to be a matter of hours rather than days or weeks.