Functional Properties of Submicron‐Scale Rice Flour Produced by Wet Media Grinding

The digestibility and hydration properties of wet‐ground submicron‐scale rice flour were compared with those of dry‐ground coarser microscale flours. The submicron flour (mean size 0.6 µm) was produced in a wet‐media mill with 0.3 mm zirconia beads by continuous 24 h pulverization. The solubility, water absorption index, and swelling power increased as the mean particle size decreased, reaching maximum values in the submicron flour. Starch damage was high in the submicron flour, with the absence of intact starch granules. The digestibility also increased as the particle size decreased, and it was highest in the submicron flour. These results show that wet‐ground submicron rice flour has different functional properties from dry‐ground coarser flour. The digestibility was more strongly influenced by starch damage and the water absorption index than by the mean particle size.     

Effects of Roasting and Malting on Physicochemical Properties of Select Cereals and Legumes

Pearl millet, teff, cowpea, and peanut used in the formulation of experimental weaning foods were evaluated for changes in physicochemical properties resulting from roasting and malting. The particle size index (PSI) value for cowpea was significantly higher, indicating a finer flour than that obtained from pearl millet. Pearl millet and teff flours did not have significantly different PSI values, water absorption index values, or gruel viscosities. Viscosities for control and roasted cowpea gruels (15%, w/v) were significantly higher than those obtained from peanut gruels. Malting had the greatest impact on physicochemical properties for all grains, whereas roasting produced no significant differences from control flours. Malting yielded apparent increases in grain protein content, and malted seeds yielded finer flours with reduced water absorption and pasting qualities.     

Effect of Dehulling and Germination on Physicochemical and Pasting Properties of Black Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Dehulled and/or germinated black bean flours were physicochemically characterized, including pasting properties, along with the trypsin inhibitor and antioxidant phenolics. To our best knowledge, this is the first study that, using nonparametric correlations and principal component analysis, identifies the parameters affecting the pasting properties of germinated black bean flour. The carbohydrate loss observed after black bean germination was indirectly correlated with the crude fiber content. Therefore, germination increased the protein and crude fiber contents compared with raw seeds (from 19.1 and 2.4% to 24.0 and 5.1%, respectively). Additionally, the highest protein digestibility was obtained in dehulled germinated black bean flour (78.4%), followed by whole germinated seed flour (74.1%). The dehulling process increased the total starch content 13.5 and 18.8% compared with raw and germinated whole bean flours, respectively. Dehulling decreased both trypsin inhibitor activity and antioxidant phenolics. Germination reduced by twofold the peak and final viscosities of black bean flours. Interestingly, both viscosities were negatively correlated with protein and positively correlated with fat and insoluble dietary fiber. Although resistant starch content was not affected by germination or dehulling, its interactions with fat and insoluble dietary fiber were responsible of the changes observed in pasting properties of germinated black bean flour.     

Evaluation of the Functionality of Five Different Soybean Proteins in Hot‐Press Wheat Flour Tortillas

Five different soybean protein sources were added to wheat flour to increase the protein content by 15–25%, and the resulting composite flours were optimally processed into hot‐press tortillas in a pilot plant. The rheological properties of composite flours were evaluated with the farinograph, alveograph, and other wheat quality tests. Tortilla‐making qualities of the control and soybean‐fortified flours were evaluated during dough handling, hot pressing, and baking. The resulting tortillas were tested in terms of yield, physical and chemical parameters, sensory properties, color, and objective and subjective texture. The soybean‐fortified tortillas had increased yields because of the higher dough water absorption and enhanced essential amino acid scores. Among the five different soybean proteins, the defatted soybean flour (SBM1) with the lowest fat absorption index and protein dispersibility index (PDI) and the soybean concentrate produced the best fortified tortillas. The protein meals with high PDI and relatively lower water absorption index (SBM3 and SBM4) produced sticky doughs, lower alveograph P/L values, and defective tortillas. All soybean proteins produced higher yields of tortillas with an enhanced protein quality and amount of dietary fiber.     

Effect of Milling and Particle Size on Functionality and Physicochemical Properties of Cowpea Flour

Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) were milled through 0.5‐, 1.0‐, and 2.0‐ mm screens, and the flour was subsequently separated into different particle‐size ranges. Such procedures caused only minimal changes in moisture, fat, protein, ash, and total carbohydrate. The amount of extractable starch, however, varied from 34.5 to 52%. The effects of both mill screen and sieve mesh size were significant (P < 0.05). Differences in milling and separation procedures resulted in significant variations in water absorption (0.41–2.81 g of water/g of flour), solids lost (0.34–1.17 g/g of flour), and protein solubility (21.2–37.4%) (P < 0.05). Finely milled flours (91% moisture) had lower initial gelatinization temperatures (70–73°C), as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) (P < 0.01). Gelatinization peaks in high‐moisture flour were similar to that of pure starch. At lower moisture, a second peak was observed indicative of protein. Light‐scattering analysis showed that different conditions produced a bimodal particle‐size distribution when samples were suspended in water. The small size had relatively constant diameters (19–21 μm) and was associated with starch granules. The latter had a large size distribution and varying peak size and was associated with aggregated flour particles. These results indicate that changes in processing produces cowpea flours with differing chemical and physical properties.     

Characteristics and composition of watermelon, pumpkin, and paprika seed oils and flours

The nutritional quality and functional properties of paprika seed flour and seed kernel flours of pumpkin and watermelon were studied, as were the characteristics and structure of their seed oils. Paprika seed and seed kernels of pumpkin and watermelon were rich in oil and protein. All flour samples contained considerable amounts of P, K, Mg, Mn, and Ca. Paprika seed flour was superior to watermelon and pumpkin seed kernel flours in content of lysine and total essential amino acids. Oil samples had high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic and oleic acids as the major acids. All oil samples fractionated into seven classes including triglycerides as a major lipid class. Data obtained for the oils' characteristics compare well with those of other edible oils. Antinutritional compounds such as stachyose, raffinose, verbascose, trypsin inhibitor, phytic acid, and tannins were detected in all flours. Pumpkin seed kernel flour had higher values of chemical score, essential amino acid index, and in vitro protein digestibility than the other flours examined. The first limiting amino acid was lysine for both watermelon and pumpkin seed kernel flours, but it was leucine in paprika seed flour. Protein solubility index, water and fat absorption capacities, emulsification properties, and foam stability were excellent in watermelon and pumpkin seed kernel flours and fairly good in paprika seed flour. Flour samples could be potentially added to food systems such as bakery products and ground meat formulations not only as a nutrient supplement but also as a functional agent in these formulations.     

Significance of Wheat Flour Particle Size on Sponge Cake Baking Quality

We evaluated the effect and magnitude of flour particle size on sponge cake (SC) baking quality. Two different sets of wheat flours, including flours of reduced particle size obtained by regrinding and flour fractions of different particle size separated by sieving, were tested for batter properties and SC baking quality. The proportion of small particles (<55 μm) of flour was increased by 11.6–26.9% by regrinding. Despite the increased sodium carbonate solvent retention capacity, which was probably a result of the increased starch damage and particle size reduction, reground flour exhibited little change in density and viscosity of flour‐water batter and produced SC of improved volume by 0.8–15.0%. The volume of SC baked from flour fractions of small (<55 μm), intermediate (55–88 μm), and large (>88 μm) particles of soft and club wheat was in the range of 1,353–1,450, 1,040–1,195, and 955–1,130 mL, respectively. Even with comparable or higher protein content, flour fractions of intermediate particle size produced larger volume of SC than flour fractions of large particle size. The flour fractions of small particle size in soft white and club wheat exhibited lower flour‐water batter density (102.6–105.9 g/100 mL) than did those of large and intermediate particle fractions (105.2–108.2 g/100 mL). The viscosity of flour‐water batter was lowest in flour fractions of small particle size, higher in intermediate particles, and highest in large particles. Flour particle size exerted a considerable influence on batter density and viscosity and subsequently on SC volume and crumb structure. Fine particle size of flour overpowered the negative effects of elevated starch damage, water absorption, and protein content in SC baking.     

Effects of Extruder Screw Speeds on Physical Properties and In Vitro Starch Hydrolysis of Precooked Pinto,Navy, Red,and Black Bean Extrudates

Precooked pinto, navy, red, and black bean flours were extruded at different screw speeds (320, 380, and 440 rpm) with a twin‐screw extruder. Effect of speed on physical properties and in vitro starch hydrolysis was investigated. Increasing screw speeds reduced water activity, expansion index, and texture. Extrudates could not be obtained from pinto bean flour at 440 rpm because of the high shear effect. Water absorption index and water solubility index were not significantly affected by screw speed but were significantly higher than for unextruded precooked flour. A significant change in color was observed in navy beans, characterized by increasing b values on the Hunter color scale. Resistant starch ranged from 3.65 to 4.83% db and was not significantly affected by screw speed. Glycemic index of all extrudates was high, ranging from 81.3 to 86.9.     

Composition,Functional Properties,Starch Digestibility,and Cookie‐Baking Performance of Dry Bean Powders from 25 Michigan‐Grown Varieties

The chemical composition, functional properties, starch digestibility, and cookie‐baking performance of bean powders from 25 edible dry bean varieties grown in Michigan were evaluated. The beans were ground into coarse (particle size ≤1.0 mm) or fine (≤0.5 mm) powders. Starch and protein contents of the bean powders varied between 34.4 and 44.5% and between 19.1 and 26.6% (dry basis [db]), respectively. Thermal properties, pasting properties, and water‐holding and oil‐binding capacities of the bean powders differed and were affected by particle size. After blending the bean powders with corn starch (bean/starch = 7:3, db), the blends were used for cookie baking following a standard method ( 1 Approved Method 10‐54.01). Generally, the cookies baked from the fine bean powders had smaller diameters, greater thicknesses, and greater hardness values than those from the coarse counterparts. Differences in the cookie‐baking performances of the bean powders were observed among the 25 varieties. Larger proportions of resistant starch (RS) were retained in the bean‐based cookies (54.7–126.7%) than in the wheat‐flour‐based cookies (10.4–19.7%) after baking. With higher contents of RS and protein, the bean‐based cookies had more desirable nutritional profiles than those baked from wheat flour alone.     

Image Analysis Approach to Understand the Differences in Flour Particle Surface and Shape Characteristics

The separation efficiency of wheat flour particles based on size, with minimum bran contamination, is important for a flour mill. Separation of flour during fractionation depends on the surface characteristics and shape of flour particles. Wheat flour particle characteristics such as surface lipid content, roughness, and morphology with respect to particle size were studied to better understand the differences between hard and soft wheat flours. Fractal analysis using image analysis was used to ascertain surface roughness. That was in turn verified by atomic force microscopy measurements. Soft wheat flours (soft red winter and soft white) had a higher degree of surface roughness than the hard wheat flours (hard red spring, hard red winter, and hard white). The fractal dimension values ranged from 2.67 to 2.78 and from 2.28 to 2.55 for soft and hard wheat flours, respectively. The surface lipid content increased with particle size in hard wheat but decreased in soft wheat flours. The surface lipid levels ranged from 1.02 to 1.18 and from 2.55 to 2.58% (% of total area) for 45 μm particles in hard wheat flours (hard red spring, hard red winter, and hard white) and soft wheat flours (soft red winter and soft white), respectively. For the 90 μm particles the lipid levels ranged from 1.54 to 1.62 and from 1.70 to 1.83% (% of total area) for flour particles in hard wheat flours (hard red spring, hard red winter, and hard white) and soft wheat flours (soft red winter and soft white), respectively. Surface lipid content and roughness values showed that soft wheat flours will be more cohesive than hard wheat flours. The morphology values revealed the irregularity in flour particles, irrespective of wheat class and particle size, owing to nonuniform fragmentation of protein and starch matrix of the wheat endosperm.     

Physical Characteristics,Nutritional Quality,and Antioxidant Potential of Extrudates Produced with Polished Rice and Whole Red Bean Flours

In Brazil, rice (Oryza sativa L.) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are the basis of the population's diet, and their consumption together is a good strategy to improve protein biological value. The aim of this study was to produce extruded products with whole red bean (WRBF) and polished rice (PRF) flours and to evaluate the effects of extrusion temperature (T) and feed moisture content (FM) on technological properties and total phenolic compounds content. The extrudates were elaborated in a twin‐screw extruder following a 2² central composite rotatable design with FM (15–23%) and T (120–160°C) as independent variables. WRBF and PRF were used at a 1:3 ratio. Amino acid content and profile were evaluated in the optimum extrudate (produced at FM = 19% and T = 140°C). The total phenolic content identified in extruded products was provided by the red bean seed coat, and its quantification suggested the release of bound phenolics with the extrusion process (not temperature dependent). The extrusion of PRF and WRBF, in combination, produced extruded products of high protein quality, being complete in essential amino acids for the diets of people at least 48 months old. The results indicate that legume flours such as WRBF incorporated into rice flour can cause a positive impact on technological, nutritional, and functional quality of extrudates.     

Technological and Nutritional Properties of Flours and Tortillas from Nixtamalized and Extruded Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays L.)

Nixtamalized and extruded flours from quality protein maize (QPM, V‐537C) and tortillas made from them were evaluated for some technological and nutritional properties and compared with the commercial brand MASECA. Both QPM flours showed higher (P < 0.05) protein content, total color difference, pH, available lysine, and lower (P < 0.05) total starch content, Hunter L value, water absorption index, gelatinization enthalpy, resistant starch, and retrograded resistant starch than nixtamalized MASECA flour. Tortillas from nixtamalized and extruded QPM flours had higher contents of essential amino acids than tortillas from MASECA flour, except for leucine. Tortillas from processed QPM flours also showed higher (P < 0.05) values of the nutritional indicators calculated protein efficiency ratio (C‐PER 1.80–1.85 vs. 1.04), apparent and true in vivo protein digestibility (78.4‐79.1 vs. 75.6% and 76.4–77.4 vs. 74.2%, respectively), PER (2.30–2.43 vs. 1.31), net protein retention (NPR; 2.88–2.89 vs. 2.11), and protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS; 54–55 vs. 29% based on preschool children and 100 vs. 85% based on adults) than MASECA flour. The use of QPM for flour and tortilla preparation may have a positive effect on the nutritional status of people from countries where these products are widely consumed.     

Effects of Added Minerals on Pasting of Partial Waxy Wheat Flour and Starch and on Noodle Making Properties

Mineral content, as determined and expressed by ash content, serves as an index of wheat flour quality for flour millers and food manufacturers who prefer flour of low mineral content, even though the significance of mineral content on the functional properties of wheat flour is not well understood. We explored whether minerals have any influence on the functional properties of wheat flour and product quality of white salted noodles. Ash, obtained by incinerating wheat bran, was incorporated into two hard white spring wheat flours and their starches to raise the total ash content to 1, 1.5, or 2%. Pasting properties were determined using a rapid visco analyzer (RVA). Addition of ash increased the peak viscosity of the flours in both water and buffer solution but did not affect the peak viscosity of starch. Wheat flours with added ash showed lower pasting temperature by approximately 10°C in buffer solution. Mineral extracts (15.3% ash) isolated from wheat bran, when added to increase the ash content of wheat flour and starch to 2%, increased the peak viscosity and lowered the pasting temperature of flour by 13.2–16.3% but did not affect the pasting properties of the isolated starch. The mineral premix also increased peak viscosity of wheat flour but not in starch. Added ash increased noodle thickness and lowered water retention of cooked noodles while it exhibited no significant effect on cooked noodle texture as determined using a texture analyzer.     

Low α-Amylase Starch Digestibility of Cooked Sorghum Flours and the Effect of Protein

The comparably low starch digestibility of cooked sorghum flours was studied with reference to normal maize. Four sorghum cultivars that represent different types of endosperm were used. Starch digestibilities of 4% cooked sorghum flour suspensions, measured as reducing sugars liberated following α-amylase digestion, were 15–25% lower than for cooked maize flour, but there were no differences among the cooked pure starches. After the flours were predigested with pepsin to remove some proteins, the starch digestibility of cooked sorghum flours increased 7–14%, while there was only 2% increase in normal maize; however, there was no effect of pepsin treatment on starch digestibility if the flours were first cooked and then digested. After cooking with reducing agent, 100 mM sodium metabisulfite, starch digestibility of sorghum flours increased significantly while no significant effect was observed for maize. Also, starch solubility of sorghum flours at 85 and 100°C was lower than in maize, and sodium metabisulfite increased solubility much more in sorghum than in maize. Differential scanning calorimetry results of the flour residue after α-amylase digestion did not show any peaks over a temperature range of 20–120°C, indicating that sorghum starches had all undergone gelatinization. These findings indicate that the protein in cooked sorghum flour pastes plays an important role in making a slowly digesting starch.     

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。     

Functional Effects of Soybean Concentrates Obtained from Sprouted Seeds Enriched in Selenium in Wheat Breadmaking

Selenium is an essential mineral in nutrition, and a proper intake of this element in its organic form has been related to body protection against cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein functionality of soybean concentrates as affected by germination and selenium addition in yeast‐leavened pan breads. Protein concentrates from germinated and selenized soybean were obtained. All protein concentrates (from germinated and selenized samples) showed similar properties, with exception of 1) water solubility index (23% for raw soybean and 43% for germinated concentrated) and 2) water absorption index (2.45 for raw soybean and 4.07 for germinated and selenized soybean concentrate). Bread made with composite flours (wheat plus 6–7% soybean concentrates) showed changes in oven spring, bread volume, and density, with selenized and germinated treatments as the most different loaves when compared with wheat‐based products. Bread crumb texture was similar among samples, except for products containing germinated material, for which a higher hardness was reached after 24 h. The use of germinated and selenized soybean concentrates in yeast‐leavened wheat bread has not been reported before, and besides the enhancement in nutritional properties, functional properties such as water absorption of final products could be improved.     

Effects of Blend and Processing Method on the Nutritional Quality of Weaning Foods Made from Select Cereals and Legumes

Weaning blends, formulated in a 60% cereal to 40% legume combination using teff, pearl millet, cowpea, and peanut, were evaluated for changes in nutritional quality due to the effects of blend and processing method. Four blends were prepared by each of four traditional processing methods: control (unprocessed), roasting, germination, and natural fermentation. The main effect of blend formulation proved to be the stronger determinant of nutrient density, while processing method produced the strongest effect on weaning food viscosity. Germinated blends yielded viscosity measurements significantly below those resulting from other processing methods. Germination of ingredients increased nutrient density and in vitro protein digestibility, while roasting and fermentation produced little change from the control product. Complementation of cereal flours with peanut yielded weaning foods with a significantly (P < 0.01) higher nutrient density, increased in vitro protein digestibility and lower viscosity when compared to cowpea-based blends. The use of 20% whole grain teff in weaning blends increased protein content but did not significantly increase nonstarch polysaccharide content as compared to weaning blends without teff.     

Effect of processing on the antioxidant vitamins and antioxidant capacity of Vigna sinensis Var. Carilla

Cowpea (Vigna sinensis L. var. Carilla) flours obtained by fermentation with inoculum Lactobacillus plantarum (PF) or with the natural microorganisms present in the flour (NF) and subsequent heat treatment in an autoclave were prepared to study the effect of fermentation on the antioxidant vitamin content and on the antioxidant capacity. Bacterial counts and pH values, vitamins C and E, carotenoids, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase-like activity (SOD-like activity), peroxyl radical-trapping capacity (PRTC), lipid peroxidation in unilamillar liposomes, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) were evaluated in raw and processed cowpea flours. gamma-Tocopherol and delta-tocopherol were found in raw cowpea, whereas vitamin C and carotenoids were not detected. An increase in the vitamin E activity was observed in PF, whereas vitamin C and carotenoids were not detected in fermented cowpea flours. Fermentation or heat treatment in an autoclave after fermentation produced processed cowpea flours with lower PRTC, glutathione content, and SOD-like activity than those of the raw seeds. However, those processes increased the capacity to inhibit the lipid peroxidation in unilamellar lipoposomes and TEAC. According to the results obtained in this study, the fermentation of cowpeas (naturally or with L. plantarum) and fermentation and subsequent heat treatment in an autoclave are good processes to obtain functional cowpea flours having higher antioxidant capacity than the raw legume.     

Farinograph Responses for Wheat Flour Dough Fortified with Wheat Gluten Produced by Cold‐Ethanol or Water Displacement of Starch

The objective of this research was to identify and define mixing characteristics of gluten‐fortified flours attributable to differences in the method for producing the gluten. In these studies, a wheat gluten concentrate (W‐gluten) was produced using a conventional process model. This model applied physical water displacement of starch (dispersion and screening steps), freeze‐drying, and milling. W‐gluten was the reference or “vital” gluten in this report. An experimental W‐concentrate was produced using a new process model. The new model applied coldethanol (CE) displacement of starch (dispersion and screening steps), freeze‐drying, and milling. Freeze‐drying was used to eliminate thermal denaturation and thereby focus on functional changes due only to the separation method. The dry gluten concentrates were blended with a weak, low‐protein (9.2%), soft wheat flour and developed with water in a microfarinograph. We found that both water and cold‐ethanol processed gluten successfully increased the stability (St) and improved mixing tolerance index (MTI) to create in the blended flour the appearance of a breadbaking flour. Notably, in the tested range of 9–15% protein, the St for CE‐gluten was always higher then the St for W‐gluten. Furthermore, the marginal increase in St (slope of the linear St vs. protein concentration) for the CE‐gluten was ≈57% greater than that for the W‐gluten. The slope of the MTI vs. protein data was lower for the CE‐gluten by 24%. Flour fortified with CE‐gluten exhibited higher water absorption (up to 1.8% units at 13.5% P) than flour fortified with W‐gluten.     

Effects of Heat Stress and Cultivar on the Functional Properties of Starch in Chinese Wheat

Heat stress during the grain‐filling stage is a major limiting factor for improving Chinese wheat production, and its effect on functional properties of flours and starches in 10 leading cultivars from the Yellow and Huai Valleys grown under normal and heat‐stress environments was investigated. Heat stress during the grain‐filling stage decreased total starch content but increased protein and lipid contents of wheat grains. Amylose content of wheat starch was little altered under a heat‐stress environment. Heat stress did not significantly change swelling power and starch solubility of wheat starches but significantly decreased swelling power of wheat flours. Pasting viscosities of wheat starches and flours were affected differentially by heat stress. Heat stress had a significant effect on gelatinization and retrogradation properties of starches. The in vitro enzymatic digestibility of wheat starches was affected slightly by heat stress. Analysis of variance indicated that heat stress had a significant effect on some functional properties of starch and flour, although the largest source of variability in these properties was cultivar.