Ice in Prefermented Frozen Bread Dough—An Investigation Based on Calorimetry and Microscopy

The amount, morphology, and distribution of ice in prefermented frozen bread dough were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and cryoscanning electron microscopy (cryo‐SEM). Bread dough was frozen after proofing, stored frozen at ‐22 ± 3°C and analyzed without previous thawing. At constant storage conditions, the ice fraction amounted to 53% of the total water and remained constant even over a period of 56 days. Unlike other frozen food foams, ice crystals were observed in the gas pores of the dough. Ice crystals were already present at 1 hr after freezing. Crystal growth and rounding off by recrystallization was observed after 1 day of frozen storage. After 149 days, crystal size reached several 100 μm. It is concluded that growth of ice crystals leads to a redistribution of water in the dough mix in the form of ice, which in turn affects the properties of polymeric compounds in dough and reduces the baking performance of prefermented frozen doughs.     

Fermentation Stability and Pore Size Distribution of Frozen Prefermented Lean Wheat Doughs

Fermentation stability of frozen prefermented doughs was studied with a maturograph, an instrument that allows monitoring of dough rise, gas production, and gas retention during fermentation. Maturograph curves excellently predicted the baking quality, measured as form ratio, after frozen storage. The greatest decrease in dough level occurred after seven days of storage, after which the level remained constant. With some flours, decreased amount of water improved both the fermentation stability and form ratio of breads baked after seven days of frozen storage of dough. However, no improvement was observed in loaf volume. Preliminary experiments with longer final fermentation time (after thawing) showed that the reduced water content also resulted in higher loaf volumes than did optimal water content. Microscopic studies showed that with most doughs, porosity decreased with reduced water content. However, these changes depended on flour type. In one dough, reduction of water by 2 percentage units decreased the area of pores per total area of section from 56.6 to 46.4%, whereas in another dough the same water reduction had no effect on the pore area.     

Effects of Prolonged Storage at Freezing Temperatures on Starch and Baking Quality of Frozen Doughs

The effects of prolonged frozen storage on the starch, rheological, and baking properties of doughs were investigated. Four hard red spring (HRS) wheat cultivars exhibiting consistently different gluten characteristics were used. Gelatinization properties of starches isolated from fresh and thawed frozen doughs over 16 weeks of frozen storage were examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Significance of results varied with cultivar, but all cultivars showed a significant increase in ΔH with increased frozen storage time, indicating water migration and ice crystallization. The amount of freezable water in frozen doughs increased for all cultivars with frozen storage, but the rate of increase varied. Glupro showed a consistent increase in freezable water during frozen storage (41.6%), which may be associated with its high protein content and strong gluten characteristics. Rheological strength of the frozen doughs which was determined by decreases in extensigraph resistance and storage modulus (G′), declined throughout frozen dough storage. Proofing time increased from 45 min for fresh doughs to an average of 342 min for frozen doughs stored 16 weeks. Concomitantly, loaf volumes decreased from an average of 912 cm³ for fresh doughs to an average of 738 cm³ for the frozen doughs. Longer proof times and greater loaf volume loss were obtained for the cultivars exhibiting greater gluten strength characteristics.     

Frozen Bread Dough Properties Modified by Thermostable Ice Structuring Proteins Extract from Chinese Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) Leaves

Thermostable ice structuring proteins (TSISPs) extracted from Chinese privet (Ligustrum vulgare) leaves were used in frozen dough. TSISPs extract thermal hysteresis activity ranged from 0 to 0.27°C based on different ice fractions in solution. The effects of the TSISPs extract on melting enthalpy of ice (ΔH), water molecular state, microstructure, rheofermentation capacity, and baking properties of doughs during frozen storage were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, rheofermentometer, and texture analyzer. The addition of TSISPs in frozen dough caused a decrease in freedom of water molecules and ΔH, which resulted in improved microstructure, fermentation capacity, and baking properties of frozen doughs. Residual gluten fibril increased, exposed starch granules decreased, and gas production and retention of frozen doughs was enhanced. These effects resulted in an increase in specific volume and a decrease in crumb hardness of baked frozen dough.     

Effect of Hydrophilic Gums on Frozen Dough. I. Dough Quality

Disadvantages of frozen doughs are their variable performance and loss of stability over long‐term frozen storage. Changes in rheological properties of frozen doughs have been reported to be due to the physical damage of the gluten network caused by ice crystallization and recrystallization. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of hydrophilic gums on ice crystallization and recrystallization for improvement of the shelf‐life stability of frozen dough. The present research involved use of the Hard Red Spring wheat cultivar Grandin and hydrophilic gums such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gum arabic, kappa carrageenan (κ‐carrageenan), and locust bean gum at three different levels each on doughs stored frozen for up to 16 weeks. The dough characteristics were analyzed after day 0, day 1, and after 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of frozen storage using data from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), water activity, extensigraph, and proof time. The ΔH value of freezable water endothermic transitions obtained using DSC increased with storage time for all treatments. However, addition of different levels of the four gums lowered the ΔH value, indicating a decrease in freezable water. Doughs with locust bean gum gave a higher peak force, measured using the Kieffer dough extensibility rig of the texture analyzer, and lower proof time, indicating better retention of baking quality. Maximum resistance to extension increased upon addition of 1 and 3%; CMC; 1 and 3%; κ‐carrageenan; and 1, 2, and 3% locust bean gum as compared with the control. The various periods of storage or gum treatments did not affect the water activity of the thawed frozen doughs. Doughs with locust bean gum gave significantly lower proof time compared with the other treatments and the control. CMC gave the second lowest values, followed by gum arabic treatment. Addition of κ‐carrageenan increased the proof time compared with the control. In summary, locust bean gum, gum arabic, and CMC improved the dough characteristics to varying degrees. κ‐Carrageenan was the only gum that showed a detrimental effect on frozen dough.     

Bread Quality Relationship with Rheological Measurements of Wheat Flour Dough

The rheological properties of wheat doughs prepared from different flour types, water contents, and mixing times for a total of 20 dough systems were studied. The results were compared with the results of standard baking tests with the same factors. Water and flour type had a significant effect on storage modulus (G′) or phase angle measured by an oscillatory test both in the linear viscoelastic region and as a function of stress, and on compressional force measured as a function of time. The correlation of maximum force of dough in compression and G′ of dough measured within the linear viscoelastic region was r = 0.80. Correlation between the compression and oscillation test improved when all measuring points of the G′ stress curve were included (r = 0.88). The baking performance of the different doughs varied greatly; loaf volumes ranged from 2.9 to 4.7 mL/g. Although the water content of the dough correlated with the rheological measurements, the correlation of G′measured in the linear viscoelastic region or maximum force from stress‐time curve during compression was poor for bread loaf volumes. Mixing time from 4.5 to 15.5 min did not affect the rheological measurements. No correlation was observed with the maximum force of compression or G′ of dough measured in the linear viscoelastic region and baking performance. Good correlation of rheological measurements of doughs and baking performance was obtained when all the data points from force‐time curve and whole stress sweep (G′ as a function of stress) were evaluated with multivariate partial least squares regression. Correlation of all data points with loaf volume was r = 0.81 and 0.72, respectively, in compression and shear oscillation.     

Correlations Between Empirical and Fundamental Rheology Measurements and Baking Performance of Frozen Bread Dough

Empirical and fundamental rheology measurements were made on fresh and frozen dough to investigate the effects of freezing, frozen storage, and additives. These results were compared with results of a standard baking test. Four formulations were tested: a control dough, and doughs with additions of 100 ppm of ascorbic acid (AA), 0.5% sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL), and 0.5% diacetyl tartaric acid esters of monoglycerides (DATEM). Rheological and baking tests were performed on fresh doughs and on doughs after two, five, and eight weeks of frozen storage. Resistance to extension was higher for doughs with additives in fresh and frozen doughs. There was a decrease in resistance to extension due to freezing. Complex modulus in fresh doughs was highest for doughs with SSL. There was a decrease complex modulus after freezing and thawing. In frozen doughs at 10 Hz, doughs with additives had higher complex modulus values and lower phase angle values when compared to the control. The additives used all had a positive effect on proof time, loaf volume, and crumb firmness, and all formulations deteriorated in quality during frozen storage. Resistance to extension and complex modulus were positively correlated with loaf volume (r = 0.86 and r = 0.64, P < 0.01). Phase angle was negatively correlated with loaf volume (r = -0.74, P < 0.01).     

Rheological Properties of Soft Wheat Flour Doughs: Effect of Salt and Triglycerides

The small deformation rheological properties of wheat flour doughs in relation to their structure and hydration were studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and electron spin resonance. The effect of salt and triglycerides was also examined and compared with results we obtained previously on starch dispersions. Moisture content was adjusted to 48 or 60% (w/w, wb). Samples contained 0–16% NaCl (g/100 g of flour‐water) and 0–18% triolein or lard (g/100 g of flour‐water). The obtained results suggested that starch has an active role in determining the evolution of dough rheological characteristics during heating. The main factors controlling rheological behavior during thermal treatment are the volume fraction and deformability of starch granules. Gluten changes the viscoelasticity of the continuous phase and competes with starch for water. The addition of sodium chloride to flour dispersions shifted the structural disorganization and rigidity increased during heating to higher temperatures. At >7% NaCl, the reverse effect was observed. The mechanism controlling the effect of salt on dough rheological behavior was explained in terms of effect on water properties and on starch structure and hydration. Triglycerides had a lubricant effect (i.e., lowering G′ modulus) on the wheat flour dough system. These effects are of great importance for production and quality of bakery products.     

Association of Glutenin Subunit Composition and Dough Rheological Characteristics with Cookie Baking Properties of Soft Wheat Cultivars

The effect of flour type and dough rheology on cookie development during baking was investigated using seven different soft winter wheat cultivars. Electrophoresis was used to determine the hydrolyzing effects of a commercial protease enzyme on gluten protein and to evaluate the relationships between protein composition and baking characteristics. The SDS‐PAGE technique differentiated flour cultivars based on the glutenin subunits pattern. Electrophoresis result showed that the protease degraded the glutenin subunits of flour gluten. Extensional viscosities of cookie dough at all three crosshead speeds were able to discriminate flour cultivar and correlated strongly and negatively to baking performance (P < 0.0001). The cookie doughs exhibited extensional strain hardening behavior and those values significantly correlated to baking characteristics. Of all rheological measurements calculated, dough consistency index exhibited the strongest correlation coefficient with baking parameters. The degradation effects of the protease enzyme resulted in more pronounced improvements on baking characteristics compared with dough rheological properties. Stepwise multiple regression showed that the dough consistency index, the presence or absence of the fourth (44 kDa) subunit in LMW‐GS and the fifth subunit (71 kDa) subunit in HMW‐GS were predominant parameters in predicting cookie baking properties.     

Evaluation of Various Baking Methods for Polished Wheat Flours

Flour qualities of polished wheat flours of three fractions, C‐1 (100–90%), C‐5 (60–50%), and C‐8 (30–0%), obtained from hard‐type wheat grain were used for the evaluation of four kinds of baking methods: optimized straight (OSM), long fermentation (LFM), sponge‐dough (SDM) and no‐time (NTM) methods. The dough stability of C‐5 in farinograph mixing was excellent and the maturity of polished flour doughs during storage in extensigraph was more improved than those of the commercial wheat flour (CW). There were no significant differences in the viscoelastic properties of CW dough after mixing, regardless of the baking method, while those of polished flour doughs were changed by the baking method; this tendency became clear after fermentation. The polished flours could make a better gluten structure in the dough samples after mixing or fermentation using LFM and SDM, as compared with other baking methods. Baking qualities such as specific volume and storage properties of breads from all polished flours made with SDM increased more than with other methods. In addition, viscoelastic properties of C‐5 and C‐8 doughs fermented by SDM were similar to those of CW, and the C‐5 breadcrumb showed softness similar to that of the CW. Also, SDM could make C‐5 bread with significantly higher elasticity and cohesiveness after storage for five days when compared with CW bread. Therefore, SDM with long fermentation, as compared with other baking methods, was considered suitable for use with polished flours to give better effects on dough properties during fermentation, resulting in more favorable bread qualities.     

Structural and Physical Changes in Ultrasound‐Assisted Frozen Wet Gluten

Ultrasound‐assisted freezing is a novel food‐freezing technique which is of benefit to frozen food quality. Studies of the structural and physical changes in the ultrasound‐assisted frozen wet gluten system illustrate how the ultrasound irradiation improves the frozen dough quality. The microtopography of ice crystals in frozen wet gluten was observed indirectly by scanning electron microscopy; the ice crystals were smaller and more uniform in wet gluten frozen using the ultrasound‐assisted technique than in wet gluten frozen without ultrasound. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the changes in the secondary structure of a frozen gluten heavy water system during frozen storage. It was determined that there were no noticeable changes in the structure of the wet gluten frozen using the ultrasound‐assisted technique. However, the structure of the wet gluten frozen without ultrasound became unordered. The freezable water content in the frozen wet gluten was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Compared with conventional freezing, more water was frozen using ultrasound‐assisted freezing. Furthermore, the freezable water content in the wet gluten frozen using the ultrasound‐assisted technique did not increase during frozen storage. Ultrasonic cavitation promoted the primary and secondary nucleation of ice in the wet gluten and loosened the weak interactions between the gluten and the water. Consequently, the existence of a microstructure with small and uniform ice crystals was noted, which was determined to be beneficial with regard to reducing the deterioration of the gluten network and, hence, improving the quality of the frozen food.     

酵母对冷冻面团发酵特性及馒头品质的影响

为了找出使冷冻面团和馒头综合品质较稳定的酵母产品,采用动态流变仪和F3发酵仪对低糖型国光高活性干酵母(1#)、英联马利苹果即发高活性干酵母(2#)、品一高活性干酵母(3#)、高糖型马利即发高活性干酵母(4#)、高糖型丹宝利即发高活性干酵母(5#)和耐高糖安琪高活性干酵母(6#)冷冻面团冻藏35 d过程中的流变学特性和发酵特性进行研究,并对由此面团制作馒头的质构、色泽、比容和感官品质进行分析。结果表明:不同市售酵母冷冻面团在不同冻藏时间下的流变学特性和发酵特性不同。不同酵母冷冻面团制作馒头后硬度、弹性、回复性、咀嚼性、亮度、红度、黄度、比容和感官品质分别差异显著,不同冻藏时间下同种酵母冷冻面团馒头的质构、色泽、比容和感官品质也分别差异显著。6种酵母在冻藏35 d内,1#和2#酵母冷冻面团的发酵活力始终较大,6#酵母冷冻面团的发酵特性参数始终最稳定;1#、5#和6#酵母冷冻面团的弹性模量与黏性模量较大,其中面团流变学特性最稳定的是5#;1#和6#酵母冷冻面团制作馒头的感官品质较好的同时,比容较高,色泽品质较好,质构品质也较好。因此整个冻藏期间,使冷冻面团和馒头综合品质较好较稳定的是1#,其次是6#。研究结果为冷冻面团馒头工业化生产中酵母的选择提供参考。     

Effect of Hydrophilic Gums on the Quality of Frozen Dough: Electron Microscopy,Protein Solubility,and Electrophoresis Studies

Hydrophilic gums have been shown to improve the shelf‐life stability of frozen doughs during long periods of frozen storage. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of gums on starch and protein characteristics of frozen doughs using electron microscopy and electrophoresis studies. Frozen doughs, supplemented with three levels of gum arabic, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), kappa (κ) carrageenan, and locust bean gum, were studied after day 1 and after 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of frozen storage. Changes in the ultra structure of the frozen doughs were investigated, as well as the solubilities and composition of dough proteins by SDS‐PAGE. Scanning electron micrographs of doughs evaluated on day 0 (unfrozen) showed starch granules securely embedded in the gluten matrix. However, after 8 and 16 weeks of frozen storage, the frozen control dough without the gum additives clearly showed damage to the gluten network, and the starch granules appeared to be separated from the gluten. Doughs with locust bean gum and gum arabic showed better retention of the gluten network compared with the frozen control evaluated after different periods of storage. The SDS‐soluble protein content increased while residue protein content decreased as the frozen storage time increased. After each frozen storage period, the control dough without the gum additive had the highest amount of SDS‐soluble proteins and the lowest amount of residue proteins when compared with the doughs treated with gums. κ‐Carrageenan and locust bean gum had the lowest amount of SDS‐soluble proteins compared with doughs with CMC and gum arabic. The frozen control had the lowest amount of residue proteins at any particular time of frozen storage. κ‐Carrageenan treated doughs had the highest amount of residue proteins, followed by doughs with locust bean gum. Doughs with gum arabic and CMC had the lowest amount of residue proteins but still higher than the control doughs.     

Effect of Physical State of Nonpolar Lipids on Rheology and Microstructure of Gluten‐Starch and Wheat Flour Doughs

To clarify the effects of solid fat and liquid oil on dough in more detail in a simpler system, gluten‐starch doughs with different gluten contents were investigated. The results from rheological measurements indicate that dough with a higher starch content has less resistance to strain and dough with a lower starch content has a rubber‐like structure. The effects of the physical state of nonpolar lipids such as fat and oil on gluten‐starch doughs and wheat flour doughs were investigated using rheological measurements and scanning electron microscopy. Fat‐containing dough had more gas cells and a very smooth gluten gel surface with few holes, which may provide higher tolerance to strain. Moreover, the fat seemed to uniformly distribute the gluten gel between the starch granules in the dough, which reduced the friction between starch granules and led to a lower storage modulus. A mechanism governing the effect of fats on loaf volume is proposed based on the phenomena observed in the fat‐containing dough.     

Effect of Germination and Water Content on the Microstructure and Rheological Properties of Two Rye Doughs

Two rye cultivars, Marder and Motto, with falling numbers 314 and 309, respectively, were germinated in vitro. Relative to the native grains, germination induced minor local changes in the microstructure of cell walls and proteins in the kernels. Kernels of germinated and native grains were milled, and doughs were prepared from the flours, with water content and incubation time varied according to experimental design. The viscoelastic properties of the doughs were measured just after mixing and after various incubation times. The area of blue fluorescence, a measure of intact cell walls, was quantified by computer-assisted image analysis in thin sections of rye dough after mixing and incubation, and the starch structure was studied under the microscope after iodine staining. The water content of the doughs was explained well by the rheological behavior. Doughs made from flours of germinated grains were always softer than doughs made from flours of native grains, and Marder doughs were always more rigid than Motto doughs. The higher the water content, and the longer the incubation time, the greater the rheological changes during incubation. Microstructural studies showed that germination and incubation caused changes in the cell wall structures of dough that might explain the softening of the doughs.     

Influence of Shaping and Orientation of Structures on Rheological Properties of Wheat Flour Dough Measured in Dynamic Shear and in Biaxial Extension

Characterization of the rheological properties of wheat flour dough during mixing and baking without modifying its structure or mechanical properties is not easy. In this work, the effect of dough setting pre‐orientation and strain orientation during characterization are assessed for differently structured wheat flour doughs (various water contents and addition of glucose oxydase). Rheological properties were measured in dynamic shear as rotational (CSL²100 fitted with a cone‐plate geometry) or radial (CP20 fitted with a plate‐plate geometry) small deformation mode and in lubricated squeezing flow and relaxation called large deformation mode. In comparison with radial shearing, rotational shearing induces a much larger preorientation of the network and thus a strain‐hardening phenomenon that affects the rheological measurements (storage modulus is overestimated) but relaxes, at least partially, during a rest period. Consequently, a longer period of time has to be allotted (allowing stress relaxation) before starting measurements. Plate‐plate geometry induces less preorientation and allows measurement a few minutes after setting. However, it has less discrimination of the differently structured dough than the cone‐plate geometry used in rotational mode. Results which partially agree with those of the CP20 are obtained using the lubricated squeezing flow followed by stress relaxation.     

Differential Scanning Calorimetric Study on the Effects of Frozen Storage on Gluten and Dough

Water transport from the gluten to the starch paste during frozen storage of a dough was studied by analysis of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) peak shape for gluten and dough. The results indicate that in gluten stored at ‐15°C, the water content in the gluten phase decreased by ≈1% over the first three weeks. An apparent steady state was attained over this period and the amount of ice did not increase further. Such changes were not observed for samples stored at ‐25°C. Qualitatively similar observations were made for dough stored at either ‐15 or ‐25°C. The greater sensitivity of dough to frozen storage is tentatively attributed to a slightly lower glass transition temperature in dough.     

Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Treatments on Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Flour Characteristics and Effect on Fresh and Frozen Dough Quality

Growers are targeting hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (HRSW) for frozen dough end uses. Consequently, it is important to determine whether increasing nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates and grain protein content (GPC) improve frozen dough quality. Four HRSW cultivars were grown in low‐N soils at three locations over two years in North Dakota and fertilized with N rates of 0 kg/ha, 67.2 kg/ha, and 134.4 kg/ha. End use characteristics were analyzed using farinograph, extensigraph, and baking tests. Fresh and frozen doughs were analyzed to determine the effects of N treatments on frozen storage. A cultivar × N treatment interaction existed for extensigram curve area of fresh dough. A significant increase in GPC existed between the 0 and 67.2 kg/ha N treatments. Farinograph water absorption, arrival times, and peak times increased significantly at the 67.2 kg/ha N treatment. Bread loaf volume of fresh dough increased significantly with all treatments, while loaf volume of frozen dough increased significantly only at the 67.2 kg/ha N treatment. Therefore, aside from fresh dough loaf volume, there appears to be no improvement in frozen dough quality with the use of higher than typical N application.     

Comparison of Small and Large Deformation Measurements of Whole Meal Rye Doughs

The rheological properties of rye flour-water-salt doughs prepared from different flour types (different falling number and coarseness) at different water levels were studied after mixing and after 90 min of incubation (30°C and 80% rh). Both the effect of water and the coarseness of the flour had significant effects on storage modulus (G′) measured by oscillatory test in the linear viscoelastic region and on compressional force measured at large deformation. The results of the two rheological methods correlated very well with each other (correlation coefficients varied in the different doughs at r = 0.975–0.999). Dough rheological measurements suggested that falling number did not have a statistically significant effect on dough rheology after mixing or incubation. Although the two rheological methods correlated well, the responses for incubation were different. In the small deformation method, the storage modulus of all doughs, independent of the falling number, decreased during incubation, whereas in the large deformation method, only the hardness of doughs made from flours with lower falling number decreased during incubation. The rheological measurements of doughs after mixing and the viscosity measurements of flourwater suspension at 30 and 40°C did not correlate with each other. Total pentosans have great effect on viscosity measurements of flour-water suspensions, whereas flour particle size and soluble pentosans correlated more with rheological properties of doughs (r = 0.851 between G′ and soluble pentosans).     

The Combination of Rhizopus chinensis Lipase and Transglutaminase Affects the Rheology and Glutenin Macropolymer Properties of Frozen Dough

The combination of Rhizopus chinensis lipase (RCL) and transglutaminase (TG) was previously reported to improve the quality of frozen dough bread. In this study, the effects of RCL, TG, and their combination on the modification of glutenin macropolymer (GMP) and rheological properties of dough during frozen storage were investigated. Frozen storage changed both GMP and rheology properties of dough. TG treatment significantly decreased the ratio of high‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunits to low‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunits and GMP content in fresh dough, and GMP particle size increased. The effect of RCL on GMP properties was not significant, but its combination with TG dramatically increased the proportion of the larger particles and weighted average volume (D_4.3) in GMP. The treatment with the enzyme combination could have inhibited the depolymerization of GMP, which slowed down the decrease rate of some parameters such as GMP content, proportion of larger particles, D_4.3, and release of free amino and thiol groups during frozen storage. The modification of GMP properties by enzyme treatment weakened the effect of the freezing process on rheological properties of dough, especially TG treatment and its combination with RCL. Correlation between GMP particle size and dough properties (dough tensile force and elastic modulus) after freezing and enzyme treatment were confirmed.