Starch Hydrolyzing Enzymes for Retarding the Staling of Rice Bread

Previous attempts have been made to obtain gluten‐free bread of acceptable quality for bread specific volume and crumb texture. Rice bread is a good alternative to celiac patients, but it has a very rapid staling during storage. Rice starch is more prone to retrograde during storage than wheat starch, and the special hydrophobic nature of the rice proteins requires specific enzymes to be used in the rice bread process. To retard rice bread staling, two different starch hydrolyzing enzymes (α‐amylase of intermediate thermostability and cyclodextrin glycoxyl transferase [CGTase]) have been tested and their effect on fresh bread quality and staling during storage has been evaluated. The addition of α‐amylase improved bread specific volume and crumb firmness but very sticky textures were obtained. The addition of CGTase produced even higher specific volume and similar crumb firmness with better texture. Both enzymes decreased the ability of amylopectin to retrograde during storage. The firming kinetic was lowered by the α‐amylase but not the limiting firmness, while the rice crumb from CGTase firmed quickly with a very short range of firmness increase. Results revealed that the starch hydrolysis brought about by the α‐amylase was not sufficient to retard staling. CGTase was considered a better antistaling agent because of its starch hydrolyzing and cyclizing activity.     

Dough Properties and Bread Quality of Wheat–Barley Composite Flour as Affected by β‐Glucanase

Barley is rich in nutritionally positive compounds, but the quality of bread made of wheat–barley composite flours is impaired when a high percentage of barley is used in the mixture. A number of enzymes have been reported to be useful additives in breadmaking. However, the effect of β‐glucanase on breadmaking has scarcely been investigated. In this paper, the influence of different levels (0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08%, based on composite flour) of β‐glucanase (100,000 U/g) on the properties of dough and bread from 70% wheat, 30% barley composite flour were studied. Although dough development time, dough stability, and protein weakening value decreased after β‐glucanase addition, dough properties such as softness and elasticity as well as bread microstructure were improved compared with the control dough. β‐Glucanase also significantly improved the volume, texture, and shelf life of wheat–barley composite breads. The use of an optimal enzyme concentration (0.04%) increased specific volume (57.5%) and springiness (21%), and it reduced crumb firmness (74%) and staling rate. Bread with added β‐glucanase had a better taste, softness, and overall acceptability of sensory characteristics compared with the control bread. Moreover, the quality of wheat–barley composite bread after addition of 0.04% β‐glucanase was nearly equal to the quality of pure wheat bread. These results indicate that dough rheological characteristics and bread quality of wheat–barley composite flour can be improved by adding a distinct level of β‐glucanase.     

Breadmaking Use of Andean Crops Quinoa,Kañiwa,Kiwicha, and Tarwi

The effect of addition of flours from the highly nutritious Andean crops quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), kañiwa (Chenopodium pallidicaule), kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus), and tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis) has been investigated in wheat doughs and fresh bread quality. The thermomechanical profile of wheat doughs and bread quality has been explored by increasing substitution of wheat flour at 0–100% by Andean crop flours. Dough blends were evaluated using the Chopin Mixolab device, whereas bread quality assessment comprised sensory (overall acceptability) and physicochemical (moisture, specific volume, texture, color) determinations in composite breads. In general, no breads with aerated crumb structure could be obtained from 100% Andean crop flours, with the exception of quinoa breads that had overall sensory values about half a completely perfect score, and which were not significantly different from the breads made from a 50:50 blend of wheat and quinoa. Replacement of wheat flour by ≤12.5% (tarwi), 25% (kañiwa), and 50% (kiwicha), respectively, still produced breads with good sensory acceptability but variable color and doughs with acceptable thermomechanical patterns. Partial substitution of wheat flour by Andean crop flours constitutes a viable option to improve the nutritional value of the breads, with acceptable technological performance of dough blends and composite breads.     

Production of Two Types of Pocket‐Forming Flat Bread by the Sponge and Dough Method

Two types of flat bread (thin and thick) were produced from straight‐grade flour by the traditional straight dough (SD) and sponge and dough (SPD) methods using 50 and 60% sponges. Quality of the resulting bread was evaluated with respect to specific volume, crumb distribution between layers, moisture content, overall sensory quality, and rate of staling. The results showed that the method of production has a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the specific volume of the crumb‐rich thick flat bread but not on the almost crumb‐free thin type. The study showed that breads produced with the SPD method were superior to those produced by the SD method with respect to their overall quality and resistance to staling, and that using 50% sponge gave bread with superior overall sensory quality to that obtained using 60% sponge. The results indicate that the Structograph can be used to follow the staling of these breads. Nonetheless, using the SPD method has some drawbacks, mainly longer fermentation time, and more space, mixing, and labor requirements that are expected to limit its use in commercial production of flat bread types.     

Pyranose Oxidase from Trametes multicolor Impacts Dough and Bread Microstructure

Pyranose oxidase (P₂O) improves wheat flour dough stability and bread quality. We related its effect on dough spread behavior to that on dough and bread crumb structure. Increasing P₂O addition levels gradually reduced dough flow. High P₂O addition levels further increased dough strength, significantly increased dough cell wall thickness, and decreased bread loaf volume. Taken together, affecting dough spread behavior impacts dough and bread (crumb) structure, and dough structure largely determines bread crumb structure.     

Effects of Flour Strength,Baking Absorption,and Processing Conditions on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Bread Crumb

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of flour type, baking absorption, variation in sheeting, and dough proofing time on the density, crumb grain (visual texture), and mechanical properties (physical texture) of bread crumb. All response variables were measured on the same bread crumb specimens. Bread loaves were prepared by a short‐time bread‐making process using four spring wheat flours of varying strength. After crumb density measurement, digital image analysis (DIA) was used to determine crumb grain properties including crumb brightness, cell size, cell wall thickness, and crumb uniformity. Tensile tests were performed on bone‐shaped specimens cut from the same bread slices used for DIA to obtain values for Young's modulus, fracture stress, fracture strain, and fracture energy. Proof time had the most profound influence on the bread with substantial effects on loaf volume, crumb density, crumb brightness, and grain, as well as crumb mechanical properties. Increasing proof time resulted in higher loaf volume, lower crumb density and brightness, coarser crumb with fewer and larger cells with thicker cell walls, and weaker crumb tensile properties. Varying flour type also led to significant differences in most of the measured crumb parameters that appeared to correspond to differences in gluten strength among the flour samples. With increasing flour strength, there was a clear trend to increasing loaf volume, finer and more uniform crumb grain, and stronger and more extensible bread crumb. Increasing baking absorption had virtually no effect on crumb structure but significantly weakened crumb strength and increased fracture strain. In contrast, varying the number of sheeting passes had a minor effect on crumb cellular structure but no effect on mechanical properties. The experimental data were consistent with a cause‐effect relationship between flour strength and the tensile strength of bread crumb arising as a result of stronger flours exhibiting greater resistance to gas cell coalescence, thereby having fewer crumb defects.     

Use of fungal phytase to improve breadmaking performance of whole wheat bread.

The possible use of phytase as a breadmaking improver has been tested in whole wheat breads by adding different amounts of fungal phytase. The effect of phytase addition on the fermentation stage and the final bread quality was analyzed. The phytase addition shortened the fermentation period, without affecting the bread dough pH. Regarding the whole wheat bread, a considerable increase of the specific bread volume, an improvement of the crumb texture, and the width/height ratio of the bread slice were obtained. An in vitro assay revealed that the improving effect of phytase on breadmaking might be associated with the activation of alpha-amylase, due to the release of calcium ions from calcium-phytate complexes promoted by phytase activity. As a conclusion, phytase offers excellent possibilities as a breadmaking improver, with two main advantages: first, the nutritional improvement produced by decreasing phytate content, and second, all the benefits produced by alpha-amylase addition can be obtained by adding phytase, which promotes the activation of endogenous alpha-amylase.     

Effects of Rice Flour Blends on Bread Texture and Staling

The effects of blending rice flour with wheat flour on bread texture and staling were investigated with three rice varieties with different amylose contents. For the texture analysis of bread crumb, the compression test, puncture test, and tensile test were performed. A flour blend containing rice flour suppressed the recovery of the crumb after compression. For the puncture test, blends with rice flour increased the distance to penetrate the crumb. The rupture strain measured with the puncture test decreased with staling of the bread crumb for all samples tested. The fresh bread crumb sample containing waxy rice flour had much greater extensibility in the tensile test than the other samples tested, but it was dramatically decreased after one day of storage. Endothermic enthalpies corresponding to retrograded amylopectin, which is part of the staling process, were also measured. The enthalpy of bread crumb from the blended flour was lower than that of wheat flour bread up to three days but was higher on day 4. A blend of rice flour thus reduced amylopectin retrogradation during early storage, but it was accelerated later. Bread blended with waxy rice flour showed the lowest enthalpy during storage.     

Application of Pregerminated Brown Rice for Breadmaking

Pregerminated brown rice (PGBR) prepared by immersing in water was used for breadmaking, and effects on the dough properties and bread qualities were studied to compare with the ungerminated brown rice (BR). The substitution of BR or PGBR for wheat flour produced smaller specific volume in bread than in the control bread without BR or PGBR along with the increasing amount of substitution. However, the bread samples containing BR or PGBR suppressed staling during storage. The improving effect was especially obvious for substitutions of 10 and 20% PGBR as compared with BR. PGBR made viscous dough and retarded the staleness of bread compared with BR. γ‐Aminobutyric acid and oryzanol did not contain in the final BR and PGBR substituted bread, and phytic acid was decomposed ≈54 and 45% for 30% BR and 30% PGBR substituted breads, respectively. But ferulic acid was quite stable in the final baked product. As a result, substitution of PGBR for wheat flour improved the bread quality.     

Network Formation in Gluten‐Free Bread with Application of Transglutaminase

One of the main problems associated with gluten‐free bread is obtaining a good structure. Transglutaminase (TGase), an enzyme that catalyzes acyl‐transfer reactions through which proteins can be cross‐linked could be a way to improve the structure of gluten‐free breads. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of TGase at different levels (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 U of TGase/g of protein) on the quality of gluten‐free bread. The recipe consisted of white rice flour (relative amount: 35), potato starch (30), corn flour (22.5), xanthan gum (1), and various protein sources (skim milk powder [SMP] [12.5], soya flour, and egg powder). The influence of the various proteins in combination with the different addition levels of TGase on bread quality (% bake loss, specific volume, color, texture, image characteristics, and total moisture) was determined. Confocal laser‐scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to evaluate the influence of TGase on the microstructure of the bread. Baking tests showed that TGase had an effect on the specific volume of the bread. For instance, the SMP bread with 10 U of enzyme contained the most compact structure, which was reflected in the crumb texture profile analysis results (highest values) (P < 0.05), digital image analysis (highest level of cells/cm²) (P < 0.05), and CLSM micrographs (network formation). Finally, it can be concluded that it is possible to form a protein network in gluten‐free bread with the addition of TGase. However the efficiency of the enzyme is dependent on both the protein source and the level of enzyme concentration.     

Effects of Oat Grain Hydrothermal Treatments on Wheat-Oat Flour Dough Properties and Breadbaking Quality

Hydrothermal treatments, which are routine in oat processing, have profound effects on oat flour dough rheological properties. The influence of roasting and steam treatments of oat grain on dough mixing and breadbaking properties was investigated when hydrothermally treated oat flour was blended with wheat flour. Roasting of oat grain (105°C, 2 hr) resulted in oat flours that were highly detrimental to wheat flour dough mixing properties and breadbaking quality. Steaming (105°C, 20 min) or a combination of roasting and steaming of oat grain significantly improved the breadbaking potential of the oat flours. The addition of oat flours increased water absorption and mixing requirements of the wheat flour dough and also decreased bread loaf volume. However, at the 10% substitution level, steamed oat flours exhibited only a gluten dilution effect on bread loaf volume when wheat starch was used as a reference. Oat flour in the breadbaking system decreased the retrogradation rate of bread crumb starch. The results indicate that adequate hydrothermal treatments of oat grain are necessary for oat flour breadbaking applications. Steamed oat flours used at a 10% level retarded bread staling without adversely affecting the loaf volume.     

Effect of Zinc and Aluminum Ions in Breadmaking

Zinc and aluminum ions as chloride or sulfate salts at 50–500 ppm metal ion (flour basis) had no detrimental effect on fermentation of yeastleavened dough. Increased mixing times (≈10–50%) due to addition of aqueous solutions of zinc (250–500 ppm) or aluminum (150–250 ppm) ions to a bread formula was overcome by withholding salt until the final mixing stage. Breads made from commercial flours (12.5% protein) containing zinc (250–500 ppm) or aluminum (150–250 ppm) ions and no oxidant had improved loaf volume and crumb grain when compared with control bread, and no off-taste. Additionally, breads with added zinc or aluminum had better crumb grains and slower firming rates when compared with breads containing optimum l -ascorbic acid (50 ppm) or potassium bromate (20 ppm). Breads made from commercial flours (11.1% protein) and three laboratory flours (11.4–13.6% protein) containing zinc (250 ppm) or aluminum (150 ppm) ions also had improved loaf volumes and crumb grains. Zinc or aluminum ions in combination with l -ascorbic acid, but not potassium bromate, had a detrimental effect on bread quality. Scanning electron microscopy of freeze-dried bread doughs revealed that zinc and aluminum ions enhanced the film-coating property of gluten. One serving (one slice, 28 g) of bread made with 250 ppm zinc ion would provide 25% of the adult recommended dietary allowance of zinc.     

Fermented Sorghum as a Functional Ingredient in Composite Breads

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

Effects of Commercial Hydrolytic Enzyme Additives on Japanese‐Style Sponge and Dough Bread Properties and Processing Characteristics

The effects of increasing levels of eight commercial fungal enzymes enriched in four types of activity (α‐amylase, protease, xylanase, or cellulase) on Japanese‐style sponge and dough bread quality and processing characteristics have been studied using a Canadian red spring wheat straight‐grade flour. At optimum levels, the enriched α‐amylases, xylanases, and cellulases increased loaf volume and bread score and reduced crumb firmness, while the proteases only reduced crumb firmness. For α‐amylases, xylanases, and cellulases, optimum levels for crumb firmness were obtained at higher levels of addition than for loaf volume and bread score. At high levels of addition, all four enriched enzyme types reduced loaf volume and bread score and increased crumb firmness relative to optimum levels, with the proteases showing the most dramatic effects. α‐Amylases and cellulases had little impact on dough mixing requirements, while xylanases increased and proteases greatly reduced mixing requirements. All enzymes at optimum levels reduced sheeting work requirements, resulting in softer more pliable dough. Optimum bread properties for α‐amylases, xylanases, and cellulases were attained within a relatively narrow range of dough sheeting work values. This similarity in response suggests a dominant common nonspecific mechanism for their improver action, which is most likely related to water release and the resulting impact on physical dough properties.     

Sodium Reduction in Bread Using Low‐Sodium Sea Salt

Yeast bread is a major contributor of sodium in the American diet. Because of its functional impact on dough rheology and the quality of the final baked product, simply reducing the level of sodium chloride (salt) in the formula or replacing it with salt substitutes has found minimal success. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of sea salt containing 57 or 64% less sodium than common sea salt on the breadmaking properties and consumer acceptability of bread. The sodium content of the salt had no effect on dough strength, mixing time, gas production, loaf volume, or crumb grain. The flavor and overall liking of breads containing sea salt with 57 and 64% less sodium content were scored only slightly lower than bread containing the control salt by an untrained panel of 118 consumers. No difference in texture and no unacceptable flavor notes in the bread made with reduced‐sodium salts were reported. Thus, it appears that use of reduced‐sodium sea salt is a satisfactory alternative to reduce the sodium content of bread.     

Effect of freezing and frozen storage of doughs on bread quality

The effects of freezing and storage in frozen conditions on bread quality, crumb properties, and aggregative behavior of glutenins were analyzed. The effect of different additives on bread quality was also studied. The results obtained showed that freezing and storage at -18 degrees C decreased the bread quality. Samples stored in frozen conditions supplemented with diacetyl-tartaric acid ester of monoglycerides, gluten, and guar gum produced breads of greater volume and more open crumb structure than those prepared with the base formulation (without additives). All additives analyzed increased the proof time. Crumb firmness increased with dough frozen storage and bread aging time at 4 degrees C. A decrease in the amount of glutenin subunits of high molecular mass was observed by electrophoresis analysis of the SDS-soluble proteins aggregates extracted from the frozen dough. This result suggested that the protein matrix of bread underwent depolymerization during storage in frozen conditions.     

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.     

Fortification of Bread with Hulls and Cotyledon Fibers Isolated from Peas,Lentils, and Chickpeas

Bread was prepared from wheat flour and wheat flour fortified with either 3, 5, and 7% legume hulls or insoluble cotyledon fibers, or with 1, 3, and 5% soluble cotyledon fibers isolated from pea, lentil, and chickpea flours. Incorporation of hulls or insoluble fibers resulted in increases in dough water absorption by 2–16% and increases in mixing time of dough by 22–147 sec. Addition of soluble fiber resulted in decreases in water absorption as the substitution rate increased and similar mixing times to the control dough. Loaf weights of breads containing hulls or insoluble fibers were generally higher than that of control bread at 149.4–166.5 g. However, the loaf volume of breads fortified with legume hulls and fibers (685–1,010 mL) was lower than that of the control bread (1,021 mL). Breads containing soluble fibers were more attractive in terms of crumb uniformity and color than breads containing either hulls or insoluble fibers. Breads fortified with legume hulls and fibers were higher in moisture content than control bread regardless of the type, source, or fortification rate. Bread fortified with up to 7% hulls or insoluble cotyledon fibers or up to 3% soluble cotyledon fibers, with the exception of 7% insoluble pea fiber, exhibited similar firmness after seven days of storage compared with the control bread, despite their smaller loaf volume. Breads containing hull fibers exhibited the lowest starch transition enthalpies as determined by DSC after seven days of storage, while the starch transition enthalpies of breads containing added soluble or insoluble fiber were not significantly different from the control bread.     

Textural Comparisons of Gluten‐Free and Wheat‐Based Doughs,Batters, and Breads

Studies were conducted with two newly developed gluten‐free bread recipes. One was based on corn starch (relative amount 54), brown rice (25), soya (12.5), and buckwheat flour (8.5), while the other contained brown rice flour (50), skim milk powder (37.5), whole egg (30), potato (25), and corn starch (12.5), and soya flour (12.5). The hydrocolloids used were xanthan gum (1.25) and xanthan (0.9) plus konjac gum (1.5), respectively. Wheat bread and gluten‐free bread made from commercial flour mix were included for comparison. Baking tests showed that wheat and the bread made from the commercial flour mix yielded significantly higher loaf volumes (P < 0.01). All the gluten‐free breads were brittle after two days of storage, detectable by the occurrence of fracture, and the decrease in springiness (P < 0.01), cohesiveness (P < 0.01), and resilience (P < 0.01) derived from texture profile analysis. However, these changes were generally less pronounced for the dairy‐based gluten‐free bread, indicating a better keeping quality. Confocal laser‐scanning microscopy showed that the dairy‐based gluten‐free bread crumb contained network‐like structures resembling the gluten network in wheat bread crumb. It was concluded that the formation of a continuous protein phase is critical for an improved keeping quality of gluten‐free bread.     

Effects of Varying Weight Ratios of Large and Small Wheat Starch Granules on Experimental Straight‐Dough Bread

One commercial bread wheat flour with medium strength (11.3% protein content, 14% mb) was fractionated into starch, gluten, and water solubles by hand‐washing. The starch fraction was separated further into large and small granules by repeated sedimentation. Large (10–40 μm diameter) and small (1–15 μm diameter) starch fractions were examined. Flour fractions were reconstituted to original levels in the flour using composites of varying weight percentages of starch granules: 0% small granules (100% large granules), 30, 60, and 100% (0% large granules). A modified straight‐dough method was used in an experimental baking test. Crumb grain and texture were significantly affected. The bread made from the reconstituted flour with 30% small granules and 70% large granules starch had the highest crumb grain score (4.0, subjective method), the highest peak fineness value (1,029), and the second‐highest elongation ratio (1.55). Inferior crumb grain scores and low fineness and elongation ratios were observed in breads made from flours with starch fractions with 100% small granules or 100% large granules. As the proportion of small granules increased in the reconstituted flour, it yielded bread with softer texture that was better maintained than the bread made from the reconstituted reference flour during storage.