Factors Associated with Dough Stickiness as Sensed by Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy

Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy have been applied in the characterization of sticky dough surfaces. The characterization provides insight in the chemical distribution of gluten protein, starch, water, and fat during dough kneading. ATR is especially useful for selective sampling of dough surfaces because the depth of penetration of radiation is quite shallow. For dough, it is calculated to be in the order of 0.5–4 μm in the mid‐infrared, ideal for measurements of stickiness effects, where only the dough surface is of interest. To investigate the cohesive and adhesive properties of the individual dough constituents, dough was peeled from the ATR plate to study the material that adhered to it. The infrared spectra obtained indicate that fat and gluten protein appear to be located at the outer sticky dough surfaces, rather than water and starch. In comparison with gluten, the fatty component showed relatively strong adhesive forces to the ATR plate; a high residual fraction was measured after peeling the dough. Gluten proteins display different cohesion and adhesion properties that are strongly dependent on their hydration state. This indicates that the degree of hydration of gluten proteins contributes to the sticky properties of (overkneaded) dough. When analyzing gluten protein in D₂O instead of a dough matrix, more or less similar results were obtained. Significant differences in amide I and amide II intensities were measured for kneaded and stretched gluten protein in comparison to untreated, wet gluten. Besides changes in the vibrational properties of the amide groups, conformational changes in the tertiary protein structure also were observed. It appears that kneading and stretching of dough results in a major decrease in α‐helices content, accompanied by an increase of extended β‐sheet conformations.     

Description of Chemical Changes Implied During Bread Dough Mixing by FT‐ATR Mid‐Infrared Spectroscopy

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of mid‐infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to identify physicochemical changes in the French bread dough mixing process. An ATR FT‐MIR spectrometer at 4000–800 cm^–1 was used. The MIR spectra collections recorded during mixing were analyzed after standard normal variate using principal component analysis (PCA) and after second‐derivative treatment. The results were interpreted in terms of chemical changes involved in dough development and more particularly in terms of secondary structural protein changes (amide III). The loading spectrum associated with principal component 1 (PC1) allows three MIR wave number regions of variations (3500–3000, 1700–1200, and 1200–800 cm^–1) to be identified. The loading spectrum associated with PC1 describes an increase in the relative protein band intensities and a decrease in relative water and starch band intensities. The variation during bread dough mixing time of the different amide III bands identified after the second‐derivative show that α‐helical, β‐turn, and β‐sheet structures increase while random coil structure decreases, suggesting that the gluten structure is becoming a more ordered structure. The MIR mixing time identified as being the maximum scores value on the PC1 scores plots was associated with the time at which the dough apparent torque begin to collapse, suggesting that the MIR spectroscopy could monitor bread dough development.     

1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Studies of Water Mobility in Dough Systems Containing Barley Flour

This study used ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin‐spin relaxation time (T₂) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements of unfreezable water content (UFW), to assess water behavior in freshly prepared (25°C), refrigerator‐stored (4°C, one day), or freezer‐stored (–35°C, one day) doughs containing 5, 10, or 30% whole grain, air‐classified β‐glucan‐diminished, and air‐classified β‐glucan‐enriched (BGB‐E) barley flours. Three populations of water were detected by NMR, depending on moisture content of dough, namely, tightly (T₂₁, 2–5 msec), less tightly (T₂₂, 20–50 msec), and weakly (T₂₃, 100–200 msec) bound water. T₂₂ peak was always detectable, and T₂₂ peak time linearly correlated to moisture content of dough in a range of 0.7–2.0 g/g db (r = 0.99, P < 0.05). Freezer storage showed less effect on water mobility in dough compared with refrigerator storage, whereas cooking and cool storage of cooked dough significantly decreased the water mobility (P < 0.05). Adding barley flour steadily decreased the water mobility in dough, and the reduction was more significant with adding BGB‐E (P < 0.05). Immobile water content was calculated by extrapolating T₂₂ peak time versus total moisture content in dough and significantly correlated to the UFW content measured by DSC (r = 0.72, P < 0.05).     

Polymer Conformation Structure of Wheat Proteins and Gluten Subfractions Revealed by ATR‐FTIR

The polymer conformation structure of gluten extracted from a Polish wheat cultivar, Korweta, and gluten subfractions obtained from 2 U.K. breadmaking and biscuit flour cultivars, Hereward and Riband, was investigated using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). The results showed the conformation of proteins varied between flour, hydrated flour, and hydrated gluten. The β‐sheet structure increased progressively from flour to hydrated flour and to hydrated gluten. In hydrated gluten protein fractions comprising gliadin, soluble glutenin, and gel protein, β‐sheet structure increased progressively from soluble gliadin and glutenin to gluten and gel protein; β‐sheet content was also greater in the gel protein from the breadmaking flour Hereward than the biscuit flour Riband.     

Effect of Mixing Time on Gluten Recovered by Ultracentrifugation Studied by Microscopy and Rheological Measurements

The effect of mixing time on gluten formation was studied for four commercial flour mixtures. The gluten phase was separated from dough using a nondestructive ultracentrifugation method. Small deformation dynamic rheological measurements and light and scanning electron microscopy were used. The recovered gluten was relatively pure with a small amount of starch granules embedded. The protein matrix observed by microscopy became smoother with prolonged mixing. No effect of overmixing was observed on the storage modulus (G′) of gluten for any of the flours. The amount of water in gluten increased from optimum to over‐mixing for most of the flours. Increased water content during prolonged mixing was not related to an effect on G′. The Standard flour resulted in the highest water content of gluten, which increased considerably with mixing time. The Strong flour had the lowest G′ of dough, a high G′ of gluten, and no increase in gluten water content from optimum to over‐mixing. The Durum flour did not show gluten development and breakdown similar to the other flours. The differences in gluten protein network formation during dough mixing are genetically determined and depend on the flour type.     

Effect of Transglutaminase,Citrate Buffer,and Temperature on a Soft Wheat Flour Dough System

Transglutaminase (TGase) can improve the functional characteristics of proteins by introducing covalent bonds inter‐ or intrachains. Temperature and pH interfere with the protein structure and the catalytic activity of enzymes. Because these three factors can act synergistically, TGase, citrate buffer, and temperature were evaluated for their effects on the rheological and chemical changes in low‐protein wheat flour dough. Dough strength, measured by microextension test, significantly increased with increasing levels of TGase (8 U/g of protein), with changes in pH of the citrate buffer (pH 6.5), and by the effect of interaction between these factors. The same trend was observed in the size‐exclusion HPLC measurements, indicating that these two parameters have the effect of increasing gluten protein aggregation. Temperature had a significant effect on dough extension, measured by microextension test. The changes in secondary structure of gluten protein were investigated by FTIR second‐derivative spectra (amide I region, 1,600–1,700 cm⁻¹) and showed an increase in β‐sheet structures initiated by TGase, citrate buffer pH, and their interaction.     

Oat Bran Fermentation by Rye Sourdough

Hydration of oat bran including fermentation by rye sourdough was studied. Three types of oat bran suspensions were prepared (a control, one with whole meal rye flour added, and one with rye starter added). The suspensions were incubated for 1, 2, 3 and 4 hr. β‐Glucan content and solubilities of protein and β‐glucan were analyzed. Viscosity of the supernatants of oat bran suspensions was determined. Neither the rye sourdough nor the rye flour alone had a significant effect on the total β‐glucan content of oat bran suspensions. However, the addition of rye, either as whole meal rye flour or as sourdough starter, markedly increased the solubility of β‐glucan and proteins and simultaneously decreased the viscosity of the water‐soluble fraction of oat bran suspension. This suggests that a hydrolysis of β‐glucan had occurred that could change the rheological properties of oat bran in baking and the physiological potential of oat bran in nutrition.     

Influence of Bran Particle Size on Bread‐Baking Quality of Whole Grain Wheat Flour and Starch Retrogradation

The influence of bran particle size on bread‐baking quality of whole grain wheat flour (WWF) and starch retrogradation was studied. Higher water absorption of dough prepared from WWF with added gluten to attain 18% protein was observed for WWFs of fine bran than those of coarse bran, whereas no significant difference in dough mixing time was detected for WWFs of varying bran particle size. The effects of bran particle size on loaf volume of WWF bread and crumb firmness during storage were more evident in hard white wheat than in hard red wheat. A greater degree of starch retrogradation in bread crumb stored for seven days at 4°C was observed in WWFs of fine bran than those of coarse bran. The gels prepared from starch–fine bran blends were harder than those prepared from starch–unground bran blends when stored for one and seven days at 4°C. Furthermore, a greater degree of starch retrogradation was observed in gelatinized starch containing fine bran than that containing unground bran after storage for seven days at 4°C. It is probable that finely ground bran takes away more water from gelatinized starch than coarsely ground bran, increasing the extent of starch retrogradation in bread and gels during storage.     

Effect of Formulation and Processing Treatments on Viscosity and Solubility of Extractable Barley β‐Glucan in Bread Dough Evaluated Under In Vitro Conditions

β‐Glucan shows great potential for incorporation into bread due to its cholesterol lowering and blood glucose regulating effects, which are related to its viscosity. The effects of β‐glucan concentration, gluten addition, premixing, yeast addition, fermentation time, and inactivation of the flour enzymes on the viscosity of extractable β‐glucan following incorporation into a white bread dough were studied under physiological conditions, as well as, β‐glucan solubility in fermented and unfermented dough. β‐Glucan was extracted using an in vitro protocol designed to approximate human digestion and hot water extraction. The viscosity of extractable β‐glucan was not affected by gluten addition, the presence of yeast, or premixing. Fermentation produced lower (P ≤ 0.05) extract viscosity for the doughs with added β‐glucan, while inactivating the flour enzymes and increasing β‐glucan concentration in the absence of fermentation increased (P ≤ 0.05) viscosity. The physiological solubility of the β‐glucan concentrate (18.1%) and the β‐glucan in the unfermented dough (20.5%) were similar (P > 0.05), while fermentation substantially decreased (P ≤ 0.05) solubility to 8.7%, indicating that the reduction in viscosity due to fermentation may be highly dependent on solubility in addition to β‐glucan degradation. The results emphasize the importance of analyzing β‐glucan fortified foods under physiological conditions to identify the conditions in the dough system that decrease β‐glucan viscosity so that products with maximum functionality can be developed.     

Comparison of Small and Large Deformation Rheological Properties of Wheat Dough and Gluten

The rheological properties of dough and gluten are important for end‐use quality of flour but there is a lack of knowledge of the relationships between fundamental and empirical tests and how they relate to flour composition and gluten quality. Dough and gluten from six breadmaking wheat qualities were subjected to a range of rheological tests. Fundamental (small‐deformation) rheological characterizations (dynamic oscillatory shear and creep recovery) were performed on gluten to avoid the nonlinear influence of the starch component, whereas large deformation tests were conducted on both dough and gluten. A number of variables from the various curves were considered and subjected to a principal component analysis (PCA) to get an overview of relationships between the various variables. The first component represented variability in protein quality, associated with elasticity and tenacity in large deformation (large positive loadings for resistance to extension and initial slope of dough and gluten extension curves recorded by the SMS/Kieffer dough and gluten extensibility rig, and the tenacity and strain hardening index of dough measured by the Dobraszczyk/Roberts dough inflation system), the elastic character of the hydrated gluten proteins (large positive loading for elastic modulus [G′], large negative loadings for tan δ and steady state compliance [J_e⁰]), the presence of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS) 5+10 vs. 2+12, and a size distribution of glutenin polymers shifted toward the high‐end range. The second principal component was associated with flour protein content. Certain rheological data were influenced by protein content in addition to protein quality (area under dough extension curves and dough inflation curves [W]). The approach made it possible to bridge the gap between fundamental rheological properties, empirical measurements of physical properties, protein composition, and size distribution. The interpretation of this study gave indications of the molecular basis for differences in breadmaking performance.     

Impact of Wheat Fiber on Frozen Dough Shelf Life and Bread Quality

Freezing and prolonged frozen storage of dough results in constant deterioration in the overall quality of the final product. In this study the effect of wheat bran and wheat aleurone as sources of arabinoxylan (AX) on the quality of bread baked from yeasted frozen dough was investigated. Wheat fiber sources were milled to pass through a 0.5 mm screen, prehydrated for 15 min, and incorporated into refined wheat flour at 15% replacement level. Dough products were prepared from refined flour (control A), whole wheat flour (control B), aleurone composite flour (composite flour A), and bran composite flour (composite flour B) and stored at –18°C for 28 weeks. Dough samples were evaluated for breadmaking quality at zero time, 14 weeks, and 28 weeks of storage. Quality parameters evaluated were loaf weight, loaf specific volume, and crumb firmness. Composite flour bread samples showed the most resistance to freeze damage (less reduction in the overall product quality), indicating a possible role of some fiber components (e.g., AX) in minimizing water redistribution in the dough system and therefore lessening adverse modifications to the gluten structure. The data suggest that the shelf life of frozen dough and quality of obtained bread can be improved with the addition of an AX source.     

Effect on Dough Functional Properties of Partial Fractionation,Redistribution, and In Situ Deposition of Wheat Flour Gluten Proteins Exposed to Water,Ethanol, and Aqueous Ethanol

The application of the cold‐ethanol laboratory fractionation method to the bulk separation of wheat starch and gluten is accompanied by incidental dissolution, removal, or redeposition of a small part of the functional gliadin protein. The new distribution resulting from process incidental redeposition of soluble components or by purposeful add‐back of soluble and leached components can lead to differences in functionality and more difficult recovery of native properties. To assess this issue, we exposed several wheat flour types to ethanol and water (50–90% v/v) solutions, water, and absolute ethanol at 22°C and –12°C. The exposure was mass conserving (leached components returned to substrate by evaporation of the solvent without separation of phases) or mass depleting (leached components not returned to substrate). The result of the mass‐conserving contact would be flour with altered protein distributions and intermolecular interactions. The result of the mass‐depleting contact would also include altered protein content. Furthermore, the mass‐conserving contact would model an industrial outcome for a cold‐ethanol process in which leached components would be added back from an alcohol solution. The leaching result was monitored by mixography of the flour, nitrogen analysis, and capillary zone electrophoresis of extracts. Although dough rheology was generally like that of the source flour, there were notable differences. The primary change for mass‐conserving contact was an increase in the time to peak resistance and a decrease in the rate of loss of dough resistance following peak resistance. These changes were in direct proportion to the amount of protein mobilized by the solvent. Leaching at 22°C, prevented dough formation for most aqueous ethanol concentrations and greatly reduced gliadin protein content. Minimal changes were noted for solvent contact at –12°C regardless of the ethanol concentration. The data suggested that 1) the conditions applied in cold‐ethanol enrichment of protein from wheat will generally preserve vital wheat gluten functionality, 2) functionality losses can be recovered by returning the solubilized fractions, and 3) the flour to which the gluten is added may require more mixing.     

Potential of Triticale as a Substitute for Wheat in Flour Tortilla Production

The potential of triticale as a partial or total substitute for wheat in flour tortilla production was evaluated. Different mixtures of triticale and wheat flours were tested in a typical hot‐press formulation. Both grains yielded similar amounts of flour. Wheat flour contained 1.5% more crude protein, 1.6× more gluten, and produced stronger dough than triticale. Triticale flour significantly reduced optimum water absorption and mix time of blends. Flour tortillas with 100% triticale absorbed 8% less water and required 25% of the mix time of the control wheat flour tortilla. The yield of triticale tortillas was lower than the rest of the tortillas due to lower moisture content and water absorption. Triticale dough balls required less proofing and ruptured during hot pressing, thus producing defective tortillas. The 50:50 flour mixture produced doughs with acceptable rheological properties and good quality tortillas. Addition of 1% vital gluten to the 75:25 triticale‐wheat flour mix or 2% to the 100% triticale flour significantly increased water absorption and mix time and improved dough properties and tortilla yields. Textural studies indicated that increasing levels of triticale flour reduced the force required to rupture tortillas. For all tortilla systems, rupture force gradually increased, and extensibility decreased during seven days of storage at room temperature; the highest rate of change occurred during the first day. Sensory evaluation tests indicated that triticale could substitute for 50% of wheat flour without affecting texture, color, flavor, and overall acceptability of tortillas. For production of 100% triticale flour tortillas, at least 2% vital gluten had to be added to the formulation.     

Qualitative Effect of Added Gluten on Dough Properties and Quality of Chinese Steamed Bread

Glutens isolated from 15 soft red winter (SRW) wheat flours were added into a SRW wheat flour to obtain protein levels of 9.6 and 11.3% for determination of the qualitative effect of added gluten on the dough properties and quality of northern‐style Chinese steamed bread (CSB). Sodium dodecyl sulfate sedimentation (SDSS) volume of the gluten source flour exhibited positive relationships with mixograph absorption, midline peak time (MPT), and midline peak value (MPV) of the gluten‐added flours and with surface smoothness, crumb structure, and total score of CSB prepared from the gluten‐added flours regardless of protein content. Positive correlations were also observed between SDSS volume of the gluten source flour and specific volume and stress relaxation score of CSB prepared from the gluten‐added flours of 11.3% protein. The increase in protein content from 9.6 to 11.3% by gluten addition raised mixograph absorption, MPT, and MPV but had no apparent effect on resistance breakdown, dough maximum force for extension, and extensibility, and it increased CSB specific volume and crumb structure score without affecting surface smoothness, stress relaxation, and total score. Mixograph parameters exhibited significant relationships with CSB total score, indicating that they could be effective predictors of the CSB‐making quality of flours.     

Effects of Bran Prehydration on Functional Characteristics and Bread‐Baking Quality of Bran and Flour Blends

The effect of bran prehydration on the composition and bread‐baking quality was determined using bran and flour of two wheat varieties. Bran was hydrated in sodium acetate buffer (50mM, pH 5.3) to 50% moisture at 25 or 55°C for 1.5 or 12 h. The soluble sugar content in bran increased with prehydration. Decreases in phytate and soluble fiber were observed in prehydrated bran, but insoluble fiber was not affected by prehydration. Likewise, free phenolic content decreased, and there was little change in the content of bound phenolics in prehydrated bran. The compositional changes were greater in the bran prehydrated at 55 than at 25°C, and for 12 than for 1.5 h. Addition of prehydrated bran delayed dough development of bran and flour blends and slightly increased water absorption of dough. A higher loaf volume of fresh bread and lower crumb firmness of bread stored for 10 days were observed in bread containing bran prehydrated at 25°C than in bread containing nonhydrated bran or bran prehydrated at 55°C. The prehydration of bran at 25°C before being incorporated into refined flour for dough mixing improved bread quality by altering bran compositional properties, allowing enough water to be absorbed by fibrous materials in the bran and preventing water competition among dough constituents.     

Determination of Surface Tension Properties of Wheat Endosperms,Wheat Flours,and Wheat Glutens

During wheat dough processing, a large part of the interactions with water are governed by wettability properties of flour. The wettability properties of wheat materials (flat slices of wheat endosperm, flour‐based pellets, and gluten‐based pellets) were assessed by the measurement of contact angles of a sessile drop of three reference liquids (water, diiodomethane, and formamide) and estimated by equilibrium properties (contact angles and surface tension properties) and drop penetration rates. The surface tension (γ_s) of wheat materials was measured between 49.6 and 55.3 mJ/m^‐2. The present work permitted the evaluation of specific wheat types (hard wheat vs. soft wheat) and evaluation of the influence of material structure (flat slices of endosperm vs. flour‐based pellets), and material nature (flour‐based pellets vs. gluten‐based pellets) on the wettability properties. The surface tension properties were considered with regard to the nonideal structure of sample surfaces by considering surface roughness and material porosity.     

Bran Characteristics and Bread‐Baking Quality of Whole Grain Wheat Flour

Variations in physical and compositional bran characteristics among different sources and classes of wheat and their association with bread‐baking quality of whole grain wheat flour (WWF) were investigated with bran obtained from Quadrumat milling of 12 U.S. wheat varieties and Bühler milling of six Korean wheat varieties. Bran was characterized for composition including protein, fat, ash, dietary fiber, phenolics, and phytate. U.S. soft and club wheat brans were lower in insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and phytate content (40.7–44.7% and 10.3–17.1 mg of phytate/g of bran, respectively) compared with U.S. hard wheat bran (46.0–51.3% and 16.5–22.2 mg of phytate/g of bran, respectively). Bran of various wheat varieties was blended with a hard red spring wheat flour at a ratio of 1:4 to prepare WWFs for determination of dough properties and bread‐baking quality. WWFs with U.S. hard wheat bran generally exhibited higher dough water absorption and longer dough mixing time, and they produced smaller loaf volume of bread than WWFs of U.S. soft and club wheat bran. WWFs of two U.S. hard wheat varieties (ID3735 and Scarlet) produced much smaller loaves of bread (<573 mL) than those of other U.S. hard wheat varieties (>625 mL). IDF content, phytate content, and water retention capacity of bran exhibited significant relationships with loaf volume of WWF bread, whereas no relationship was observed between protein content of bran and loaf volume of bread. It appears that U.S. soft and club wheat bran, probably owing to relatively low IDF and phytate contents, has smaller negative effects on mixing properties of WWF dough and loaf volume of bread than U.S. hard wheat bran.     

Structural Modifications of Gluten Proteins in Strong and Weak Wheat Dough During Mixing

The network‐forming attributes of gluten have been investigated for decades, but no study has comprehensively addressed the differences in gluten network evolution between strong and weak wheat types (hard and soft wheat). This study monitored changes in SDS protein extractability, SDS‐accessible thiols, protein surface hydrophobicity, molecular weight distribution, and secondary structural features of proteins during mixing to bring out the molecular determinants of protein network formation in hard and soft wheat dough. Soft wheat flour and dough exhibited greater protein extractability and more accessible thiols than hard wheat flour and dough. The addition of the thiol‐blocking agent N‐ethylmaleimide (NEM) resulted in similar results for protein extractability and accessible thiols in hard and soft wheat samples. Soft wheat dough had greater protein surface hydrophobicity than hard wheat and exhibited a larger decrease in surface hydrophobicity in the presence of NEM. Formation of high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) protein in soft wheat dough was primarily because of formation of disulfides among low‐molecular‐weight (LMW) proteins, as indicated by the absence of changes in protein distribution when NEM was present, whereas in hard wheat dough the LMW fraction formed disulfide interaction with the HMW fraction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated formation of β‐sheets in dough from either wheat type at peak mixing torque. Formation of β‐sheets in soft wheat dough appears to be driven by hydrophobic interactions, whereas disulfide linkages stabilize secondary structure elements in hard wheat dough.     

Quality Parameters and Rheological Dough Properties of 15 Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) Varieties Cultivated Today

Spelt grain has high nutritional value, but the rheological properties of dough made from spelt flour remain insufficiently investigated. Most studies have focused on comparing various breeding lines and accessions of spelt with selected conventional varieties. The aim of this study was to analyze the rheological properties of dough made from the flour of 14 winter and one spring spelt varieties cultivated today compared with two reference varieties of common wheat. The analyses were performed by the Mixolab test. In comparison with common wheat, spelt varieties were characterized by significantly lower values of the gluten index (16–42 versus 87%), Zeleny index (23–28 versus 46 cm³), and kernel vitreousness (5–35 versus 51%). Doughs produced from spelt and common wheat flour differed significantly it their rheological properties. Mixolab profiles demonstrated significant variations in the values of the retrogradation index (2–8), amylase index (1–8), water absorption index (0–6), and gluten+ index (1–7) across the tested spelt varieties. Principal component analysis revealed that all six Mixolab indicators strongly discriminated wheat and spelt varieties. The results clearly indicate that some modern varieties of spelt have high breadmaking potential. They are also characterized by relatively high variation in the analyzed technological properties of grain and flour.     

Effects of Transglutaminase Enzyme on Fundamental Rheological Properties of Sound and Bug‐Damaged Wheat Flour Doughs

Transglutaminase (TG) catalyzes the formation of nondisulfide covalent crosslinks between peptide‐bound glutaminyl residues and ∊‐amino groups of lysine residues in proteins. Crosslinks among wheat gluten proteins by TG are of particular interest because of their high glutamine content. Depolymerization of wheat gluten proteins by proteolytic enzymes associated with bug damage causes rapid deterioration of dough properties and bread quality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of using TG to regain gluten strength adversely affected by wheat bug proteases. A heavily bug‐damaged (Eurygaster spp.) wheat flour was blended with sound cv. Augusta or cv. Sharpshooter flours. Dynamic rheological measurements, involving a frequency sweep at a fixed shear stress, were performed after 0, 30, and 60 min of incubation on doughs made from sound or blended flour samples. The complex moduli (G* values) of Augusta and Sharpshooter doughs blended with 10% bug‐damaged flour decreased significantly after 30 min of incubation. These dough samples were extremely soft and sticky and impossible to handle for testing purposes after 60 min of incubation. To test the possibility of using TG to counteract the hydrolyzing effect of bug proteases on gluten proteins, TG was added to the flour blends. The G* values of TG‐treated sound Augusta or Sharpshooter doughs increased significantly after 60 min of incubation. The G* values of the Augusta or Sharpshooter doughs blended with bug‐damaged flour increased significantly rather than decreased after 30 and 60 min of incubation when TG was included in the dough formulation. This indicates that the TG enzyme substantially rebuilds structure of dough hydrolyzed by wheat bug protease enzymes.