Properties of bread made from frozen dough containing waxy wheat flour

The quality of bread made from frozen dough is diminished, and staling rate is increased by changes that occur during freezing and storage. New cultivars of waxy wheat flour (WWF), containing higher levels of amylopectin, may help improve the quality of baked products. Bread quality and staling were investigated for bread containing 0–45% WWF and 55–65% water after freezing and 90-day frozen storage. The specific volume was highest with 15% WWF substitution and 60% water in bread made from both unfrozen and frozen dough. With higher levels of WWF and lower water content, bread staling rates decreased. Bread with higher levels of WWF were darker and had greater color variation. ¹H NMR studies showed that bread with greater WWF and water had higher transverse relaxation (T₂) times (9–11 ms), but less change in T₂ during storage. This research demonstrated that specific combinations of WWF and water produced a better quality of bread after dough freezing.     

Study of the mechanism of improvement due to waxy wheat flour addition on the quality of frozen dough bread

Waxy wheat flour (WWF) was substituted for 10% regular wheat flour (RWF) in frozen doughs and the physicochemical properties of starch and protein isolated from the frozen doughs stored for different time intervals (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks) were determined to establish the underlying reasons leading to the effects observed in WWF addition on frozen dough quality. Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) among others, the gluten content, water molecular state, glutenin macropolymer content, damaged starch content, starch swelling power, gelatinization properties, starch crystallinity and bread specific volume were measured. Compared to RWF dough at the same frozen storage condition, 10% WWF addition decreased dry gluten and glutenin macropolymer contents and T₂₃ proton density of frozen dough, but increased the wet gluten content, T₂₁ and T₂₂ proton density. 10% WWF addition also decreased damaged starch content, but increased starch swelling power, gelatinization temperature and enthalpy, crystallinity of starch and bread specific volume of frozen dough. Results in the present study showed that the improvement observed due to WWF addition in frozen dough bread quality might be attributed to its inhibition of redistribution of water molecules bound to proteins, increase in damaged starch content and decrease in starch swelling power.     

Effect of the thermostable xylanase B (XynB) from Thermotoga maritima on the quality of frozen partially baked bread

The effect of the recombinantly produced xylanase B (XynB) from Thermotoga maritima MSB8 on the quality of frozen partially baked bread (FPBB) was investigated. Addition of XynB to wheat flour dough resulted in a significant increase in dough extensibility (L), swelling (G), and a decrease in dough resistance to deformation (P), configuration. Bread crumb characteristics were studied by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA). The results show that addition of XynB leads to improvements in the bread quality of FPBB and retards bread staling compared to the control. The greatest improvements were obtained in specific volume (+35.2%) and crumb firmness (−40.0%). The control FPBB was significantly firmer in texture and higher in amylopectin recrystallization than the bread with XynB. During frozen storage of FPBB with and without XynB for 8 weeks, the crumb firmness increased gradually and the specific volume slightly decreased with the frozen storage time. The ΔH values of freezable water (FW) endothermic transitions increased with frozen storage time for all samples. However, addition of XynB lowered the ΔH values indicating a decrease in FW. Therefore, XynB is useful in improving the quality of FPBB. DMA was also used to monitor the shrinking behavior of the samples. Addition of XynB increased the contraction during chilling but significantly diminished the total shrinking and frozen-state shrinking of the bread crumb during the freezing process.     

Soy ingredients stabilize bread dough during frozen storage

Bread with 48.5% soy ingredients was assessed for quality during frozen storage of the dough. Soy protein was hypothesized to prevent water migration during frozen storage, thereby producing dough that would exhibit fewer structural changes than traditional wheat bread. Wheat and soy bread were baked from dough that was fresh or frozen (−20 °C, 2 or 4 wks). Dough and bread were assessed for physical properties including moisture content, percent “freezable” and “unfreezable” water, dough extensibility, and bread texture. The bread was subjected to an untrained sensory panel. The soy bread was denser, chewier, and had a higher moisture content than wheat bread. When baked from fresh or frozen dough, soy bread was rated “moderately acceptable” or higher by 70% of panelists. Soy minimized changes in dough extensibility and resistive force to extension, leading to minimal changes in bread hardness. Although consumers could distinguish between bread baked from soy dough that was fresh or frozen for 4 wks, sensorial and textural data suggested that the rate at which the quality of the soy dough deteriorated was slower than that of wheat dough. In conclusion, the dough of consumer-acceptable soy bread retained quality characteristics during frozen storage slightly better than wheat dough.     

Staling of fresh and frozen gluten-free bread

The difficulty in finding gluten-free bread and its high price make it necessary to prolong its shelf life to facilitate its availability. Freezing is an interesting alternative. The storage of bread at over zero temperatures, 20 °C and 4 °C, showed faster staling at refrigerator temperatures. A good relationship between crumb firmness and the extent of starch recrystallization was obtained, although the effect of water loss was also detected. The study of freezing and frozen storage at −14 °C and −28 °C for 7 days showed a substantial effect of the storage temperature on gluten-free bread quality and shelf life. Breads stored at −28 °C retained a quality similar to that of fresh breads while a marked deterioration of the breads stored at −14 °C was observed. This effect, the strongest on bread texture, was a result of starch recrystallization. The glass transition, T_g’ and onset of ice melting, T_m’ of the maximally freeze-concentrated bread crumb were −37.1 ± 0.6 °C and −19.3 ± 0.2 °C respectively. The higher amount of unfrozen water at −14 °C could explain the acceleration of reactions responsible for bread staling during frozen storage. The use of storage temperatures below T_m’ is recommended to retain high quality of the gluten-free bread during frozen storage.     

Quality characteristics of northern-style Chinese steamed bread prepared from soft red winter wheat flours with waxy wheat flour substitution

Quality characteristics of northern-style Chinese steamed bread (CSB) prepared from two soft red winter (SRW) wheat flours blended with 0–30% waxy wheat flour (WWF) were analyzed to estimate the influence of starch amylose content. The increased proportion of WWF in blends raised mixograph absorption with insignificant changes in protein content and dough strength-related parameters. WWF incorporation generally increased specific volume and crumb softness of CSB. The analysis of covariance revealed that CSB quality attributes were little affected by protein content and dough strength-related parameters, indicating that starch amylose content was largely responsible for the changes in CSB quality. Flour blends with 5–10% WWF, of which starch amylose content was 22.4–24.7%, produced CSB with superior crumb structure compared to other blends, but insignificant changes in surface smoothness, stress relaxation and total score compared to the respective control wheat flours. Flour blends with 15% WWF to produce a starch amylose content of 21.4–22.7% exhibited reduced staling of CSB with total scores comparable to the respective control wheat flours. CSB prepared from blends with more than 10% WWF exhibited a higher soluble starch content, indicative of reduced starch retrogradation, than that prepared from wheat flours without WWF during storage for 3 days.     

Effects of glycerol on water properties and steaming performance of prefermented frozen dough

The amount of ice in both unfrozen steamed bread dough (UFD) and prefermented frozen steamed bread dough (PFD) with and without glycerol was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The quality of unfrozen steamed bread (UFB)/prefermented frozen dough steamed bread (PFB) was also evaluated. Frozen stability and steaming performance of prefermented frozen dough were negatively correlated with ice crystal growth. Glycerol effectively prevented the formation of ice crystals during freezing and frozen storage, maintaining the quality of steamed bread from prefermented frozen dough even over a period of 30 days. The best steamed bread performance was observed with the dough containing 2% of glycerol (flour weight basis) addition. Prefermenting conditions significantly affected the quality of UFB/PFB. The highest quality scores of steamed bread from prefermented frozen dough were obtained from 32 °C and 85% rh for 40 min.     

The final established physicochemical properties of steamed bread made from frozen dough: Study of the combined effects of gluten polymerization,water content and starch crystallinity on bread firmness

The gluten polymerization behavior, water content, starch crystallinity and firmness of Chinese steamed bread made from frozen dough were investigated and their correlations were also established in this study. The decreased degree of gluten polymerization in steamed bread was observed by the enhanced SDS-extractable proteins (SDSEPs) upon frozen storage. Less incorporation of glutenin in the glutenin–gliadin crosslinking of steamed bread mainly contributed to the decreased degree of gluten polymerization. The decreased moisture of steamed bread had a significant negative correlation with the sublimated water in frozen dough (r = −0.8850, P < 0.01). Frozen storage also induced an increase in starch crystallinity and bread firmness. A multiple linear regression model with SDS-extractable proteins, water content and melting enthalpy of starch crystals of steamed bread accounted for 86% of the variance in the natural logarithm of firmness and further revealed that starch crystallinity mainly contributed to bread firmness.     

NMR-baking and Multivariate Prediction of Instrumental Texture Parameters in Bread

To study the kinetics of the bread baking process, transverse relaxation (T₂) of protons was measured during a baking process performed inside the magnet of a pulsed low field¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument. Experimental NMR relaxation data were analysed both by chemometric data analysis and by multi-exponential curve-fitting. Throughout the entire baking process from dough to bread three T₂-components were determined. During the NMR-baking process significant shifts were observed in the characteristic time constants at c. 55 °C (gelatinisation of starch) and at c. 85 °C. In a second experiment staling of white bread crumb aged 0–8 days was investigated by texture analysis and NMR relaxation. High correlations (r>0·9) between texture parameters and NMR relaxation data of bread crumb were found by partial least squares regression (PLSR) models. Firmness and elasticity as measured by a Texture Analyser were predicted with an estimated error (RMSECV) of 150 (range 200–2200) and 0·032 (range 0·4–0·7), respectively. Future texture of the bread samples was also predictable by use of NMR relaxation data from the early storage period (day 0 to day 3).     

Improvement to baking quality of frozen bread dough by novel zein-based ice nucleation films

Freezing deteriorates the baking quality of frozen bread dough. This study revealed the protective effects of zein-based ice nucleation films (INFs) on the baking quality of frozen dough. INFs were prepared by immobilizing biogenic ice nucleators on the surface of zein films, which consequently revealed ice nucleation activity and increased the ice nucleation temperature of water from −15 °C to −6.7 °C. By using these films to wrap frozen dough during five freeze/thaw cycles, the specific volume of bread was increased by up to 25% compared to the bread from control frozen dough. The reason was attributed to 40% more viable yeast cells preserved by INFs. In addition, zein-based INFs also reduced the water loss by frozen dough resulting in higher water content in bread crumb. Combining the protective effects on both specific volume and water content from zein-based INFs, the obtained bread showed 68% lower firmness and fracturability and 2.4 times higher resilience compared to the control. The INFs were also superior in that for zein-based INFs, biogenic ice nucleators showed desirable affinity with the surface to sustain at least fifteen repetitive uses on freezing water.     

Effect of glutathione on wheat dough properties and bread quality

Reduced glutathione (GSH), released from lysed yeast cells, is well-known for weakening dough structure. However, its influence on bread texture and staling has not yet been completely elucidated. Herein, this study aims at assessing the effects of GSH on dough properties and bread quality, especially bread staling, using Rheofermentometer analysis, texture profile analysis (TPA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). The results revealed that GSH substantially decreased the dough height and gas-retention capacity during fermentation. The weakened dough structure was attributed to GSH-induced disulfide bond cleavage in gluten proteins and the depolymerization of glutenin polymers. The addition of 0.005%–0.01% GSH resulted in acceptable bread quality. However, bread supplemented with 0.015%–0.03% of GSH exhibited a coarser and more open crumb microstructure, as well as high level of hardness and low resilience during aging. GSH promoted crumb water loss and drove the water shift from the immobilized to the bound state. The DSC and XRD analyses further confirmed that GSH promoted starch retrogradation and recrystallization. These results suggest that apart from the gluten structure, GSH also altered gluten−starch interactions and water redistribution, ultimately decreasing bread quality and accelerating bread staling.     

Grain of high digestible,high lysine (HDHL) sorghum contains kafirins which enhance the protein network of composite dough and bread

The aim of this study was to determine whether protein body-free kafirins in high digestibility, high-lysine (HDHL) sorghum flour can participate as viscoelastic proteins in sorghum-wheat composite dough and bread. Dough extensibility tests revealed that maximum resistance to extension (g) and time to dough breakage (sec) at 35 °C for HDHL sorghum-wheat composite doughs were substantially greater (p < 0.01) than for normal sorghum-wheat composite doughs at 30 and 60% substitution levels. Functional changes in HDHL kafirin occurred upon exceeding its T_g. Normal sorghum showed a clear decrease in strain hardening at 60% substitution, whereas HDHL sorghum maintained a level similar to wheat dough. Significantly higher loaf volumes resulted for HDHL sorghum-wheat composites compared to normal sorghum-wheat composites at substitution levels above 30% and up to 56%, with the largest difference at 42%. HDHL sorghum-wheat composite bread exhibited lower hardness values, lower compressibility and higher springiness than normal sorghum-wheat composite bread. Finally, HDHL sorghum flour mixed with 18% vital wheat gluten produced viscoelastic dough while normal sorghum did not. These results clearly show that kafirin in HDHL sorghum flour contributes to the formation of an improved protein network with viscoelastic properties that leads to better quality composite doughs and breads.     

Volume, texture, and molecular mechanism behind the collapse of bread made with different levels of hard waxy wheat flours

Physico-chemical properties of bread baked by partially replacing normal wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) flour (15, 30, and 45%) with two hard waxy wheat flours were investigated. Substitution with waxy wheat flour resulted in higher loaf volume and softer loaves. However, substitution at >30% resulted in excessive post-bake shrinkage and a ‘key-hole’ shape with an open crumb structure. Bread crumb microstructure indicated a loss of starch granule rigidity and fusing of starch granules. The cells in the interior of the bread did not become gas-continuous and as a result, shrunk as the loaf cooled. Soluble starch content was significantly higher in bread crumb containing waxy wheat flour than in control bread. Debranching studies indicated that the soluble starch in bread made with 30-45% hard waxy wheat flour was mostly amylopectin. Incorporation of waxy wheat flour resulted in softer bread immediately after baking but did not retard staling upon storage.     

Impact of guar and xanthan gums on proofing and calorimetric parameters of frozen bread dough

The influence of guar and xanthan gum and their combined use on dough proofing rate and its calorimetric properties was investigated. Fusion enthalpy, which is related to the amount of frozen water, was influenced by frozen dough formulation and storage time; specifically gum addition reduced the fusion enthalpy in comparison to control formulation, 76.9 J/g for formulation with both gums and 81.2 J/g for control, at 28th day. Other calorimetric parameters, such as T_g and freezable water amount, were also influenced by frozen storage time. For all formulations, proofing rate of dough after freezing, frozen storage time and thawing, decreased in comparison to non-frozen dough, indicating that the freezing process itself was more detrimental to the proofing rate than storage time. For all formulations, the mean value of proofing rate was 2.97 ± 0.24 cm³ min⁻¹ per 100 g of non-frozen dough and 2.22 ± 0.12 cm³ min⁻¹ per 100 g of frozen dough. Also the proofing rate of non-frozen dough with xanthan gum decreased significantly in relation to dough without gums and dough with only guar gum. Optical microscopy analyses showed that the gas cell production after frozen storage period was reduced, which is in agreement with the proofing rate results.     

Impact of guar and xanthan gums on proofing and calorimetric parameters of frozen bread dough

The influence of guar and xanthan gum and their combined use on dough proofing rate and its calorimetric properties was investigated. Fusion enthalpy, which is related to the amount of frozen water, was influenced by frozen dough formulation and storage time; specifically gum addition reduced the fusion enthalpy in comparison to control formulation, 76.9 J/g for formulation with both gums and 81.2 J/g for control, at 28th day. Other calorimetric parameters, such as T_g and freezable water amount, were also influenced by frozen storage time. For all formulations, proofing rate of dough after freezing, frozen storage time and thawing, decreased in comparison to non-frozen dough, indicating that the freezing process itself was more detrimental to the proofing rate than storage time. For all formulations, the mean value of proofing rate was 2.97 ± 0.24 cm³ min⁻¹ per 100 g of non-frozen dough and 2.22 ± 0.12 cm³ min⁻¹ per 100 g of frozen dough. Also the proofing rate of non-frozen dough with xanthan gum decreased significantly in relation to dough without gums and dough with only guar gum. Optical microscopy analyses showed that the gas cell production after frozen storage period was reduced, which is in agreement with the proofing rate results.     

Frozen bread dough: Effects of freezing storage and dough improvers

This review focuses on the effects of freezing storage on the microstructure and baking performance of frozen doughs, and provides an overview of the activities of dough improvers, including emulsifiers, hydrocolloids and other improvers used in frozen dough applications. The overall quality of bread baked from frozen dough deteriorates as the storage of the dough at sub-zero temperatures increases due to several factors which are discussed. Lipid-related emulsifiers such as diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono and diglycerides and sucrose esters employed as anti-staling agents, dough modifiers, shortening sparing agents, and as improvers for the production of high-protein bread have also been employed in frozen doughs. Hydrocolloids are gaining importance in the baking industry as dough improvers due to their ability to induce structural changes in the main components of wheat flour systems during breadmaking steps and bread storage Their effects in frozen doughs is discussed. Other dough improvers, such as ascorbic acid, honey and green tea extract, are also reviewed in the context of frozen doughs.     

Improved viscoelastic zein–starch doughs for leavened gluten-free breads: Their rheology and microstructure

Gluten-free bread was prepared from commercial zein (20 g), maize starch (80 g), water (75 g), saccharose, NaCl and dry yeast by mixing above zein's glass transition temperature (T_g) at 40°C. Addition of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC, 2 g) significantly improved quality, and the resulting bread resembled wheat bread having a regular, fine crumb grain, a round top and good aeration (specific volume 3.2 ml/g). In model studies, HPMC stabilized gas bubbles well. Additionally, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) revealed finer zein strands in the dough when HPMC was present, while dynamic oscillatory tests showed that HPMC rendered gluten-like hydrated zein above its T_g softer (i.e. |G*| was significantly lower). LSCM revealed that cooling below T_g alone did not destroy the zein strands; however, upon mechanical impact below T_g, they shattered into small pieces. When such dough was heated above T_g and then remixed, zein strands did not reform, and this dough lacked resistance in uniaxial extension tests. When within the breadmaking process, dough was cooled below T_g and subsequently reheated, breads had large void spaces under the crust. Likely, expanding gas bubbles broke zein strands below T_g resulting in structural weakness.     

Effect of Final Dough Temperature on the Microstructure of Frozen Bread Dough

The effect of final mixing temperature (16 °C and 31 °C) on the structure stability of frozen bread dough was examined by low temperature-scanning electron microscopy and the quality of bread made from them assessed. The presence of ice-crystals were determined in both doughs after freezing, by low-temperature S.E.M. The microstructures showed a slight increase in size and decrease in number of angular voids, representing ice-crystals, after 14 weeks storage at −20 °C. Loaves baked from frozen dough with a final mixing temperature of 31 °C were poorer in both gassing power and overall loaf quality than 16 °C doughs, after 14 weeks storage.     

Influence of oxygen content of kneading atmosphere on oxygen uptake and relaxation index of bread dough with various additives

The role of oxygen during mixing of bread dough was investigated using a unique air-tight mixer in which oxygen content of the atmosphere surrounding the dough was fixed at different levels ranging from 10 to 30%. Effects of the presence in bread dough composition of various O₂ consumers, such as yeast, lipoxygenase (LOX), and additional glucose oxidase (GOX) and/or soybean or horse bean flour (containing LOX), were studied in order to characterize the competition phenomena for oxygen in the different conditions. O₂ uptake by dough during mixing was followed and relaxation tests were performed on the resulting bread dough. Variation of O₂ level of the gaseous atmosphere had no rheological impact on basic bread dough (with no additional oxidative system), even though this level was found to lead to an increase of O₂ consumption by dough, especially at the beginning of mixing. The competition for O₂ consumption among yeast, LOX and GOX was decreased by kneading under a 30% O₂ atmosphere, enabling GOX to reveal its structuring effect. Finally, mixing bread dough containing GOX under O₂-enriched atmosphere enabled keeping a standard dough relaxation index, even though dough water content was increased. This opens new perspectives for improving bread softness.     

Comparison of structural features of reconstituted doughs affected by starches from different cereals and other botanical sources

Starch, as the main component of flour products, determines the physicochemical properties of dough. This work investigated the relationship of the physical properties of seven types of starches from various cereals with the structural features of reconstituted dough. Results of mixing and tensile properties analysis and scanning electron microscopy displayed that rice reconstituted flour exhibited maximum water absorption; pea reconstituted flour had higher dough stability; sweet potato dough had higher tensile resistance; highland barley dough had the greatest extensibility. Moisture distribution analysis revealed that various model dough showed remarkably different water distribution, which was distributed at T₂₁ (0.07–0.11 ms), T₂₂ (0.8–2.66 ms) and T₂₃ (10.0–20.82 ms). Correlation analysis indicated that large starch granules associated with good dough stability; amylose content of starch positively affected tensile resistance of dough; crystallinity of starch showed negative effects on water absorption; starch with higher crystallinity associated with greater dough stability.