A three component interaction among starch,protein, and free fatty acids revealed by pasting profiles

A three way interaction among starch, protein, and lipid that affects the Rapid Viscoanalyzer (RVA) paste viscosity profile was revealed using a model system composed of isolated sorghum starch, whey protein isolate, and free fatty acids (FFAs) (20:2:1, w/w/w). A prominent cooling stage viscosity peak in the RVA profile was produced when all three components were present in the system, while there was no viscosity peak when either protein or FFA alone was combined with starch. The magnitude of the cooling stage viscosity peak differed with addition of palmitic, oleic, or linoleic acids to starch and protein. Amylose was the major functional molecule of the starch component. Addition of both protein and FFA to starch substantially reduced starch solubility after gelatinization, while solubility was less affected by single addition of FFA and was not affected by protein. Nonspecificity of this interaction phenomenon was demonstrated by similar results using maize starch and other soluble proteins.     

Storage Stability of Flour‐Blasted Brown Rice

Brown rice was blasted with rice flour rather than sand in a sand blaster to make microperforations so that water could easily penetrate the brown rice endosperm and cook the rice in a shorter time. The flour‐blasted American Basmati brown rice, long‐grain brown rice, and parboiled long‐grain brown rice samples were stored in Ziploc storage bags under atmospheric conditions and in vacuum‐packed bags. They were periodically tested for over 10 months for changes in water absorption, free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (POV), viscosity changes of flour using the Rapid ViscoAnalyser (RVA), and texture of whole cooked kernel using a texture analyzer during cooking. Flour‐blasted brown rice absorbed less water but needed less cooking time than its counterpart that was not flour‐blasted. There was an increase in FFA, POV, peak viscosity (PV), final viscosity (FV), breakdown viscosity (BD), and setback viscosity (SB) during storage of flour‐blasted brown rice for 300 days, but no change was observed in texture (hardness, gumminess) and water absorption. The combined coefficient of correlation (including all types of rice) between FFA and FV is r = 0.86 and between FFA and SB is r = 0.90 at P < 0.0001.     

Fermented Sorghum as a Functional Ingredient in Composite Breads

Whole sorghum flour was fermented (a five‐day natural lactic acid fermentation) and dried under forced draught at 60°C, and evaluated for its effect on sorghum and wheat composite bread quality. In comparison with unfermented sorghum flour, fermentation decreased the flour pH from 6.2 to 3.4, decreased total starch and water‐soluble proteins, and increased enzyme‐susceptible starch, total protein, and the in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD). Fermentation and drying did not decrease the pasting temperature of sorghum flour, but slightly increased its peak and final viscosity. In comparison with composite bread dough containing unfermented sorghum flour, fermented and dried sorghum flour decreased the pH of the dough from 5.8 to 4.9, increased bread volume by ≈4%, improved crumb structure, and slightly decreased crumb firmness. IVPD of the composite bread was also improved. Mixing wet fermented sorghum flour directly with wheat flour (sourdough‐type process) further increased loaf volume and weight and reduced crumb firmness, and simplified the breadmaking process. It appears that the low pH of fermented sorghum flour inactivated amylases and increased the viscosity of sorghum flour, thus improving the gas‐holding capacity of sorghum and wheat composite dough. Fermentation of sorghum flour, particularly in a sourdough breadmaking process, appears to have considerable potential for increasing sorghum utilization in bread.     

Assessing Fermentation Quality of Grain Sorghum for Fuel Ethanol Production Using Rapid Visco‐Analyzer

The Rapid Visco‐Analyzer (RVA) was used to characterize the pasting properties of 68 sorghum grains with a standard 23‐min temperature profile. The results showed a strong linear relationship between ethanol yield and final viscosity as well as setback. Ethanol yield increased as final viscosity decreased. A modified RVA procedure (10 min) with an application of α‐amylase was developed to simulate the liquefaction step in dry‐grind ethanol production. There was a remarkable difference in mashing properties among the sorghum samples with the normal dosage of α‐amylase. The sorghum samples which were difficult to liquefy in the mashing step had much higher peak viscosities than the samples that were easily liquefied. The results also showed that the relationship between conversion efficiency and mashing property was significant. Tannins cause high mash viscosities. There was a strong linear relationship between tannin content and final viscosity as well as peak viscosity. The modified RVA procedure is applicable not only for characterization of mashing properties but also for optimization of α‐amylase doses for starch liquefaction.     

Malted Sorghum as a Functional Ingredient in Composite Bread

To alleviate the adverse effects (grittiness and high crumb firmness) caused by the inclusion of sorghum flour in composite breads, sorghum grain was malted with the aim of decreasing the gelatinization temperature and increasing the water‐holding capacity of sorghum flour. Four different heat treatments were investigated: drying the malt at high temperatures (50–150°C), stewing, steaming, and boiling before drying the malt at 80°C. Malting decreased the pasting temperature of sorghum to values approaching those of wheat flour, but the paste viscosity was very low. Increasing the malt drying temperature inactivated the amylases but gave malts of darker color and bitter taste. Stewing, steaming, and boiling the malt before drying almost completely inactivated the amylases and increased the enzyme‐susceptible starch content and the paste viscosity of malt flours. Bread made with boiled malt flour (30%) had an improved crumb structure, crumb softness, water‐holding capacity, and resistance to staling, as well as a fine malt flavor compared with the bread made with grain sorghum flour (30%). Consumers preferred the malted sorghum bread over the bread made with plain sorghum flour.     

Ethanol‐Production Performance of Ozone‐Treated Tannin Grain Sorghum Flour

Ozone has been reported as being able to degrade macromolecules such as cellulose, starch, lignins, and tannins in the textile, pulping, and water‐treatment industries. Thus, we hypothesized that ozone treatment may also inactivate tannin activity and increase fermentation efficiency of tannin sorghum lines. The objective of this research was to study the physicochemical properties of ozone‐treated whole tannin grain sorghum flour and its fermentation performance in ethanol production. Results showed that the ethanol yields from ozone‐treated tannin grain sorghums were significantly higher than yields from the untreated flour. The fermentation efficiency of ozone‐treated tannin grain sorghum was approximately 90%, which was 8–14% higher than that of untreated samples at the 36th hr of fermentation. At the end of 72 hr of fermentation, the efficiencies of ozone‐treated sorghum flour were 2–5% higher than those of untreated samples. Measured tannin levels of ozone‐treated samples decreased significantly from 3.8 to 2.7%. Gel‐permeation chromatographic results indicated that both degradation and polymerization processes might have happened to starch molecules during ozone treatment. Rapid Visco Analyzer data showed that the setback of viscosity of ozone‐treated flour was lower than that of untreated flours. Distillers dried grains with solubles made from ozone‐treated sorghum were low in residual starch (<1%) and high in crude protein (≈35%). Therefore, ozonation could be a novel and useful method to improve ethanol yield and fermentation efficiency of tannin grain sorghum.     

Measuring Oxidative Gelation of Aqueous Flour Suspensions Using the Rapid Visco Analyzer

The Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) was investigated as a tool to measure oxidative gelation capacity (OGC) of aqueous wheat flour suspensions. One club wheat patent flour was used to determine optimal hydration time, and 33 straight‐grade flours (representing 12 hard and 21 soft varieties) were used to observe varietal differences in OGC. A 33.3% w/w flour–water suspension was tested in the RVA at 30°C and 160 rpm for 1 min to establish the flour–water baseline viscosity, and then 65 μL of 3% H₂O₂ was added and the viscosity of the suspension measured at 160 rpm for a further 5 min. Flour from the club wheat showed that 20 min of prehydration was needed to observe full OGC potential. For the 33 straight‐grade flours, final RVA water baseline viscosity was correlated with Bostwick Consistometer (BC) flow (r = −0.93, P ≤ 0.01), and RVA H₂O₂ peak viscosity was correlated with H₂O₂ BC flow (r = –0.81, P ≤ 0.01). The RVA was able to differentiate H₂O₂‐reactive from nonreactive flours. The RVA can observe phenomena not observable with the BC method (e.g., viscosity reduction over time at constant shear rate), which can provide potentially valuable additional information about the nature of OGC in wheat flour suspensions.     

Starch and Protein Quality Requirements of Japanese Alkaline Noodles (Ramen)

Studies on samples of 20 hard-grained wheat cultivars and a commercial flour that varied in starch and protein quality showed that both characteristics influenced the texture of Japanese alkaline noodles (ramen). Flour swelling volume (FSV) and flour pasting characteristics (peak viscosity and breakdown) determined with a Rapid-Visco Analyser (RVA) assessed independently of α-amylase effects, were negatively correlated with total texture score. Protein quality, as indicated by farinograph stability, was positively correlated with total texture score. RVA pasting characteristics were substantially affected by small levels of α-amylase, and inactivation by means of 1 mM AgNO₃ was a critical requirement in characterizing the quality of the starch component of flour.     

Germination‐Improved Ethanol Fermentation Performance of High‐Tannin Sorghum in a Laboratory Dry‐Grind Process

A high‐tannin sorghum cultivar with 3.96% tannin content was used to study the effects of germination on its ethanol fermentation performance in a laboratory dry‐grind process. High‐tannin sorghum sample was germinated for 3 and 4 days. Original and germinated samples were analyzed for tannin, starch, protein, free amino nitrogen (FAN), and glucose content. Endosperm structures and flour pasting properties of germinated and nongerminated sorghum samples were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and rapid visco analyzer (RVA). Germination reduced tannin content from 3.96% to negligible levels. The free fermentable sugars (glucose, maltose, and maltotriose) in the germinated samples were significantly higher than those in the nongerminated control. Judged by the starch (starch plus dextrin) and free amino nitrogen contents in the mashed samples, germination improved degree of hydrolysis for starch by 13–20% and for protein by 5‐ to 10‐fold during mashing. Germination significantly shortened the required fermentation time for ethanol production by 24–36 hr, increased ethanol fermentation efficiency by 2.6–4.0%, and reduced the residual starch content in the distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) compared to the nongerminated control. Ethanol yield for the 3‐day germinated samples was 2.75 gallons/bushel, which was 3.1% higher than the 2.67 gallons for the nongerminated control. Ethanol yield for the 4‐day germinated sorghum was 2.63 gallons/bushel due to excessive loss of starch during germination.     

Effects on Pasting Viscosity of Starch and Flour from Different Operating Conditions for the Rapid Visco Analyser

Three wheat flours, three wheat starches, a regular maize starch and a waxy maize starch were subjected to a number of different RVA profiles. Five different initial temperatures were used, 40, 50, 55, 60, and 65°C, with different initial holding times (0–3 min), heating times (2fl–10 min), holding times at 95°C (0–6 min), cooling times (2–6 min), and final hold times (0–10 min) being applied. A range of final temperatures of 30–60°C was also utilized. Significant variations in viscosity were observed with these conditions, particularly in wheat starch and flour. The most important parameters causing these variations were the initial temperature, the heating rate, and the final holding time. Short initial holding times also resulted in a wider spread of values for peak viscosity although there was little effect on the mean value and no significant effect on the holding strength or final viscosity. The final temperature was also important in that lower temperatures gave more viscous gels. Provided that the desired cooling rate could be achieved, varying the cooling time had no effect on the peak or trough viscosities and only a very minor effect on the final viscosity. If final temperatures of 40°C or lower are to be used, the cooling conditions and final hold time would need to be adjusted so that maximum viscosity could be achieved. A proposal for a standard Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) procedure is: at least 1 min at 50°C, heat to 95°C over 4 min, hold at 95°C for 4 min, cool to 50°C in 3 min, and hold at 50°C for 4 min. These conditions should minimize variation within samples and should allow a better comparison between samples.     

Cooking Characteristics and Quality of Noodles from Food Sorghum

Three white food sorghums, ATx631*RTx436, ATxARG*RTx436, and SC283‐14, were decorticated, milled into flour and processed into 100% sorghum noodles. Flour, water, and salt (1%) were preheated using a hotplate or a microwave oven. The mixtures were put through a forming extruder to produce noodles. Extruded noodles were dried by three methods: air‐dry method (23°C, 48 hr); one‐stage (60°C, 30% rh, 3 hr), or two‐stage (60°C, 100% rh for 2 hr followed by 60°C, 30% rh for 2 hr). Noodles were evaluated dry and after cooking. Sorghum flours with smaller particle sizes yielded better noodles. The microwave preheating method yielded better noodles than the hot‐plate method. Stronger and firmer noodles, dry or cooked, were prepared using two‐stage drying compared with the other drying methods. Fine flour that was preheated using a microwave oven and dried using the two‐stage method gave the best noodles with moderate (10%) dry matter loss. Optimized processing conditions yielded sorghum noodles with good qualities when properly cooked.     

Comparison of Starch Pasting Properties at Various Cooking Conditions Using the Micro Visco‐Amylo‐Graph and the Rapid Visco Analyser

Pasting profiles of selected starches were compared by using a Micro Visco‐Amylo‐Graph (MVA) and a Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA). Effects of cooking (heating/cooling) rate and stirring speed on starch pasting properties were examined. The pasting viscosity of a starch suspension (8%, w/w, dsb) was measured at a fast (6°C/min) and slow (1.5°C/min) cooking rate while being stirred at either 75 rpm or 160 rpm. The pasting temperatures (PT) of all starches were higher when measured at the fast cooking rate than those at the slow cooking rate, except for wheat measured by using the RVA. PT was also higher when measured at the slow stirring speed (75 rpm) than at the fast stirring speed (160 rpm) in both RVA and MVA. When stirring speed increased from 75 rpm to 160 rpm, peak viscosity of all starch pastes except potato decreased measured by using the RVA, but increased by using the MVA. In general, amylograms of these starches obtained by using the MVA showed less breakdown, but greater setback viscosity than did that obtained by using the RVA. Differences in starch pasting properties between MVA and RVA, measured at the same cooking and stirring rates, were attributed mainly to the difference in spindle structure.     

Rheological and Pasting Properties of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Möench) Flours With and Without Jet‐Cooking

Pasting, rheological, and water‐holding properties of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) flour obtained from whole achenes separated into three particle sizes, and three commercial flours (Fancy, Supreme, and Farinetta) were measured with or without jet‐cooking. Fancy had instantaneous paste viscosity (measured using RVA) after jet‐cooking that was not observed for Supreme or Farinetta, and paste viscosity was lower for the latter two flours. Supreme jet‐cooked flour exhibited higher peak viscosity than flour without jet‐cooking, and paste exhibited high shear‐thinning. Fancy exhibited strongest viscoelastic properties (measured using a rheometer). Jet‐cooking damaged buckwheat flour structure, thereby reducing viscoelasticity. Buckwheat flour pastes experienced shear‐thinning over a wide range of shear rates. Jet‐cooking greatly enhanced water‐holding capacity. Buckwheat flour particle size did not greatly influence paste viscosity. Study showed buckwheat flours have unique pasting and rheological characteristics that have different food applications, which could especially be useful for people with celiac disease as buckwheat is gluten‐free.     

Physicochemical Properties of Flours that Relate to Sorghum Couscous Quality

Flours from eight sorghum cultivars were evaluated for their couscous-making ability with the objective of finding predictive relationships between flour physicochemical properties and couscous quality. Chemical composition, physical characteristics, and pasting and gelatinization properties of the flours were determined. A laboratory procedure was used to prepare couscous. Couscous properties were evaluated and compared to a laboratory-prepared and a commercial durum wheat couscous. Hard grain produced flours containing a high proportion of coarse particles with low ash and high damaged starch content and yielded a higher proportion of desirable sorghum couscous granules. A variety of colors ranging from brown to yellow were obtained when flours were processed into couscous. Cooked sorghum couscous stickiness was positively correlated (r = 0.89, P < 0.01) with the amount of damaged starch in flour. Cooked couscous hardness correlated positively (r = 0.79, P < 0.05) with apparent amylose content of flour and correlated negatively (r = -0.75, P < 0.05) with flour peak viscosity. Durum wheat couscous was lighter and had more yellow color than sorghum couscous. Sorghum couscous was stickier and harder than durum wheat couscous. Addition of 2% oil to the cooking water considerably improved the texture of some sorghum couscous to a level comparable to that of durum wheat couscous.     

Starch–Hydrocolloid Interaction in Chemically Leavened Gluten‐Free Sorghum Bread

A satisfactory chemically leavened gluten‐free sorghum bread method was developed by using a blend of 90% commercially milled sorghum flour and 10% rice, tapioca, or potato starch as the “flour.” The most effective starch/hydrocolloid combinations in the formula were potato starch with 4% xanthan, tapioca starch with 3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and rice starch with 3% xanthan. Overall, there was not a significant difference in the quality of loaves made with each starch/hydrocolloid combination. Rapid visco analysis showed that batter viscosity did not have a significant impact on loaf volume index but did affect crumb grain properties. Batters with lower viscosity produced loaves with better crumb grain.     

Impact of Proteins on Pasting and Cooking Properties of Nonparboiled and Parboiled Rice

The role of proteins in the pasting and cooking properties of non‐parboiled (npb) and parboiled (pb) rice was tested by means of a reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) and a protease (trypsin). DTT increased the swelling power and carbohydrate leaching of flour from npb rice flour but decreased its amylose leaching. Although DTT slightly increased the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) viscosity at the initial stages of the pasting process, it decreased RVA viscosity in the further phases of the experiment. Preincubation of flour with a trypsin decreased RVA viscosity along the whole temperature profile. Addition of DTT to the cooking water decreased water absorption and rice hardness and increased leaching of solids during cooking and stickiness of the cooked npb rice. Addition of DTT to the cooking water of flour from pb rice increased swelling power, carbohydrate leaching, and amylose leaching. Addition of DTT also increased RVA viscosity. Preincubation with trypsin had a similar effect but the changes were less pronounced. Addition of DTT increased stickiness of cooked pb rice and increased water absorption and leaching of solids during cooking. Taken together, the results provide evidence for the existence of a protein barrier affecting starch swelling, rheological, and cooking properties of both npb and pb rice.     

Phenolic Content,Antioxidant Activity,and Consumer Acceptability of Sorghum Cookies

Cookies were produced from different sorghum flours to determine their potential as vectors of antioxidants. Different sorghum cultivars and their flour extraction rates were evaluated for their effects on phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the cookies. Consumer acceptance of the sorghum cookies was compared with that of wheat flour cookies. For each sorghum cultivar, cookies of 100% extraction rate flours had two to three times more total phenolics compared with those of 70% extraction rate flours, while antioxidant activity was 22–90% higher. Cookies of the condensed tannin sorghum had two to five times more phenolics compared with those of condensed tannin‐free sorghum. Antioxidant activity was 145–227 μMol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g in cookies of condensed tannin sorghum compared with 10–102 μMol TE/g in those of condensed tannin‐free sorghum. The sorghum flours had slightly higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity values than their corresponding cookies. Cookies of the red tannin‐free sorghum flours (PAN 8564/8446) were equally liked as wheat flour cookies, except for texture. However, cookies of condensed tannin sorghum were least accepted compared with wheat flour cookies despite their high antioxidant activity.     

不同品种小麦粉的粉质特性对速冻熟制面条品质的影响

为研究不同品种小麦粉与速冻熟制面条质构特性之间的关系,选取30种小麦制粉,用FOSS定氮仪、快速黏度仪、粉质仪和拉伸仪等测定面粉品质指标,制作速冻熟制面条,用质构仪测定质构特性。采用描述性统计、主成分和聚类分析方法对30种小麦面粉和速冻熟制面条的质构关系进行了分析。结果表明:不同品种小麦粉的湿面筋、糊化温度、弱化度、粉质质量指数与硬度呈极显著相关(P0.01);蛋白质、湿面筋、总淀粉含量、最终黏度、回生值、糊化温度、粉质吸水率、粉质曲线稳定时间、面团形成时间、弱化度、粉质质量指数、拉伸曲线面积、拉伸阻力、最大拉伸阻力与剪切力呈极显著相关(P0.01);小麦粉的粉质特性,除衰减值、峰值时间和延伸度外,均与拉伸力呈极显著相关(P0.01)。根据方差贡献率提取出可以反映原变量84.023%信息的5个因子,因子1主要反映面粉的粉质拉伸特性,因子2反映小麦粉糊化特性,因子3反映蛋白质特性,因子4和因子5共同反映小麦粉的淀粉特性。这些性状在小麦粉的评价方面起着重要作用,在加工中要注重对它们的选择。聚类分析将30种小麦粉分为4类,结果表明,不能仅凭小麦粉的指标数据和质构数据来选择制作速冻熟制面条的原料,还需考虑到感官评价的影响。该结论可为小麦粉在速冻熟制面条加工应用方面提供一定的理论参考。     

Starch Pasting Properties and Amylose Content from 17 Waxy Barley Lines

Starch pasting properties and amylose content from 17 waxy barley lines (waxy gene originating from indigenous lines and an artificial mutant) were analyzed using rapid viscosity analysis (Rapid Visco Analyser [RVA]). Amylose contents varied from 0% (Shikoku‐hadaka 97) to 9.5% (Shikoku‐hadaka 96) compared with 30% for normal barley. Eight parameters were obtained from RVA profiles of these lines and correlation between each of these parameters and amylose content were evaluated. These parameters include pasting temperature (PT), peak viscosity (PV), temperature at PV, minimum viscosity (MV), final viscosity (FV), breakdown (BD), setback (SB), and time maintained at >80% PV (hot paste stability [HPS]). Significant correlations (0.64 and 0.61) were found between amylose content and FV and SB, respectively. High correlation (0.72) was found between amylose content and temperature at PV. HPS calculated from RVA profiles showed the highest correlation (0.79) to amylose content. Outer part of barley grains contained higher amounts of amylose than the inner part. There was a tendency that both PT and FV positively correlated to the amylose content of these parts.     

Effect of Ferulic Acid and Catechin on Sorghum and Maize Starch Pasting Properties

The effects of ferulic acid and catechin on starch pasting properties were studied as part of an investigation into the structure and functionality of phenolics in starch‐based products. Commercial maize starch, starches from sorghum cultivars (SV2, Chirimaugute, and DC‐75), and the phenolic compounds ferulic acid and catechin were used in the investigation. Pasting properties were measured using rapid viscosity analysis. Ferulic acid and catechin (up to 100 mg each) were added to maize or sorghum starch (3 g, 14% mb) in suspensions containing 10.32% dry solid content. Addition of catechin resulted in pink‐colored pastes, whereas ferulic acid had no effect on paste color. Ferulic acid and catechin decreased hot paste viscosity (HPV), final viscosity, and setback viscosity of maize and sorghum starch pastes, but had no influence on the peak viscosity (PV) of the former. Both phenolics increased breakdown viscosity. Ferulic acid had greater influence on HPV, final viscosity, breakdown, and setback than catechin. Addition of catechin under acidic conditions (pH 3) decreased HPV, final viscosity, and setback of maize starch, but alkaline conditions (pH 11) slightly increased setback. Both acidic and alkaline conditions resulted in increased breakdown. Investigations on model‐system interactions between ferulic acid or catechin and starch demonstrated that phenolic type and pH level both significantly influence starch pasting properties, with ferulic acid producing a more pronounced effect than catechin. The significance of these interactions is important, especially in food matrices where phenolics are to be added as functional food ingredients.