Differences in viscosity and textural properties of selected barley cultivars as influenced by pearling and cooking

Viscosity and texture are important attributes not only in determining quality of barley but also in delivering health benefits of barley products. The present study aimed at investigating viscosity and textural properties of nine barley cultivars selected for their compositional differences and economic importance to Canada. The cultivars were pearled to varying degrees to obtain whole grain and three pearled barley fractions named commercial, pot and white pearl. Increasing pearling time resulted in higher peak, trough, setback and final viscosity compared with whole grain flours. The hulless cultivars tested, tended to have lower trough, final and setback viscosities than the hulled ones. The waxy cultivars exhibited higher breakdown viscosities than normal cultivars. Viscosity at 37 °C of two cooked barley cultivars having extreme glycemic index (GI) values were significantly different. In other words, cooked Celebrity cultivar (low GI) had higher viscosity than AC Klink cultivar (high GI). Significant differences in maximum force and shearing work were also observed between cultivars. On the contrary to viscosity, both force and work decreased as pearling time increased. The study showed that some barley cultivars such as Celebrity fractions may hold a promise for the development of barley as a functional food ingredient or rice substitute.