Characterisation of gluten-free pasta through conventional and innovative methods: Evaluation of the uncooked products

Formation of a gluten protein network is fundamental for the texture and the overall quality of pasta. Replacement of the gluten network in gluten-free pasta is a major technological challenge, and the conventional technological processes have to be adapted to non-gluten formulations. The wide variety of raw materials and technologies used in the production of commercial gluten-free pasta stems from the – still on-going – search for solutions to these problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of different commercial gluten-free spaghetti currently available on the market, focusing on starch and protein organisation. Taking into account the chemical and biochemical properties of the samples, and their relationships to the physical characteristics of these products we looked at how some molecular properties relate to the final structure and quality of gluten-free pasta. Phenomena related to starch retrogradation were found to play a central role for the final texture of the products. At the same time, the origin of proteins included in the formulation was found to govern the protein–protein interactions, especially in those samples including proteins from different vegetable sources.     

Characterisation of gluten-free pasta through conventional and innovative methods: Evaluation of the cooking behaviour

The rapid stiffening of a well-developed gluten network able to entrap swollen starch granules is a key factor for the high quality of durum wheat pasta during cooking. Good resistance and firmness, low stickiness and limited release of organic materials into the cooking water are quality traits of primary importance for traditional pasta. In gluten-free (GF) pasta, the formation of a scaffold of retrograded starch can be an alternative to gluten networking: it confers rigidity to the cooked product and reduces pasta stickiness and loss of soluble materials into the cooking water. In a previous paper, 14 commercial GF spaghetti samples were studied as uncooked products from a chemical, biochemical and physical point of view. The aim of this study was to determine the cooking behaviour of these samples. A durum wheat pasta was also included as reference. Suitable cooking conditions were adopted and different conventional and innovative evaluations (i.e. compression test, creep test) were performed as a function of cooking time. Different behaviours were evidenced, often related to the ultrastructural organization of the uncooked products. In particular, the creep test revealed to be very effective in discriminating among the properties of the different GF spaghetti.     

Gelatinization and pasta making conditions for buckwheat gluten-free pasta

The formulations and the operative conditions of the processes involved in the production of buckwheat gluten free pasta were investigated. Buckwheat flour alone and/or in combination with maize and rice flours was used to make balanced formulations that, coupled with emulsifier and stabilizers (monoglycerides of fatty acids, propylene glycol alginate and/or flour of carob and guar), appropriate technologies (gelatinization of flour), and conventional pasta making process, allowed to achieve excellent nutritional and cooking quality properties. The presence of buckwheat flour in the formulation (49.2–99.4%) resulted in an experimental pasta with a high protein and dietary fiber content (values ranging from 8.9 to 11.2% d.w., and 8.9–14.4% d.w, respectively), hence making the innovative products suitable for celiac patients. The combined use of 0.1% propylene glycol alginate, 0.5% monoglycerides of fatty acids, and the gelatinization of mixed flour (buckwheat, maize, rice) allowed to obtain pasta with the highest cooking quality and texture.     

Optimization of rheological properties of gluten-free pasta dough using mixture design

The rising demand of gluten-free products for celiac people has led to important technological research on the replacement of the gluten matrix in the production of high quality gluten-free foods. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of composition (hydrocolloids, water, and proteins) on the rheological and textural properties of gluten-free dough used for producing pasta based on corn-starch and corn flour. Extensibility and rheological properties of gluten-free pasta dough were studied. Rising protein or gum contents produced a marked increase of deformation at break. However protein content was negatively correlated with breaking force. The increase in gums content produced an increase in storage and loss moduli (G′, G″). G′ was always larger than G″ with a small increase of both moduli with frequency. The mechanical relaxation spectrum was predicted from dynamic oscillatory data using the broadened Baumgaertel–Schausberger–Winter model. Application of a mixture design allowed finding the optimal composition to achieve the desirable textural properties using response surface methodology. A formulation containing 35.5% water, 2.5% gums, 4.7% proteins, 42.8% corn-starch, 10.7% corn flour, 1% NaCl, and 2.8% sunflower oil led to the highest values of G′, breaking force, and extensibility according to the optimization analysis performed.     

Rice-based pasta: A comparison between conventional pasta-making and extrusion-cooking

Good quality gluten-free products continue to be in demand among the celiac community and the production of pasta from non-conventional raw materials is a major technological challenge. In this work, the effects of two different pasta-making processes (conventional and extrusion-cooking) were investigated on parboiled brown and milled rice flours. The two processes differentiated for extrusion temperature (conventional extrusion: 50 °C, max; extrusion-cooking: 115 °C), whereas the drying diagram was the same. Starch modifications induced by each pasta-making process were analyzed by using a Micro-ViscoAmylo-graph (MVAG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray Diffraction. The cooking quality was evaluated by weight increase, solid loss into the cooking water, and texture analysis. Pasta obtained from milled rice using the extrusion-cooking process was characterized by the best cooking behavior. In this sample, starch presented the highest peak and final viscosities, the highest gelatinization temperature and lower enthalpy value, and the lowest crystallinity. The cooking quality of pasta obtained from brown rice appeared less affected by the processing conditions. Therefore, the nature and intensity of starch modifications can be modulated by the processing conditions and might explain the different cooking behaviour of rice pasta.     

Influence of hydrothermal treatment on rheological and cooking characteristics of fresh egg pasta

The effect of D.I.C. processing conditions on rheological and cooking properties of commercial fresh egg pasta was studied. The mechanical properties of pasta before and after cooking were evaluated by empirical test and characterised by maximal apparent force (F_max) and apparent relaxation coefficient (ARC). Structural (apparent density) and cooking quality were evaluated by determining mass ratio (W/Wo), optimal cooking time (OCT), swelling index (SI), solid, soluble and total cooking losses (TCL) and compared to untreated pasta. The hydrothermal treatment caused a reduction in firmness and relaxation capacity of treated pasta. The increase of processing conditions induced a decrease of F_max and the processing time has an influence when it is associated to the low pressures. The values of ARC vary from 51% (untreated pasta) to 37% (D.I.C. treated pasta). The increase of processing time from 30 to 60 s does not seem to have a significant influence on ARC. The apparent density of treated pasta is a function of processing pressure and time but it is always lower than untreated pasta density. Treated pasta had a higher quality score based on water sorption and SI and matter losses (TCL values and solid and soluble losses) as compared to untreated pasta.     

Changes in pasta proteins induced by drying cycles and their relationship to cooking behaviour

Spaghetti produced in a pilot plant was dried using three different drying conditions: 60 °C for 7.5 h; 75 °C for 5.5 h; 90 °C for 5 h. Proteins of spaghetti were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and size-exclusion–high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC). As the temperature of the drying cycles increased, a progressive decrease of the small and large monomeric proteins and an increase in molecular size of the large polymeric proteins (LPPs) were observed. Drying temperature at 60 °C already induces a significant increase in the molecular size of the LPPs and a significant decrease of the other protein fractions. At 70 and 90 °C, large and small monomeric proteins as well as LPPs polymerized as seen by a progressive shift towards higher molecular weights in the SEC profile as temperature increased. The changes in the chromatographic profiles were accompanied by increasing amount of total unextractable polymeric protein (UPP). A decrease in stickiness and an increase in firmness corresponded to the formation of large and insoluble protein aggregates.     

Manufacture and characterization of gluten-free spaghetti enriched with vegetable flour

The manufacture and characterization of gluten-free spaghetti based on maize flour and different vegetable flours (artichoke, asparagus, pumpkin, zucchini, tomato, yellow pepper, red pepper, green pepper, carrot, broccoli, spinach, eggplant and fennel) were addressed in this study. The screening of the vegetable flours showed that homogeneity, color, fibrous, taste and odor were the parameters that have most influenced the overall quality of the dry spaghetti. The spaghetti added with yellow pepper flour was chosen for further analysis because of its highest sensory quality; in contrast, it recorded low carotenoids content due to the high temperature of the drying process (cycle named as HTDC). Therefore, an optimization of the drying cycle was performed (lower temperature) on the yellow pepper flour (cycle named as LTDC) that resulted in an increase of the carotenoids content. Although the spaghetti with low temperature yellow pepper flour had a higher cooking loss and lower instrumental hardness when compared to the spaghetti made with only maize flour (CTRL) it however had a significantly higher protein and dietary fiber content. Moreover there was no significant difference in the amount of glucose released during in vitro digestion for this spaghetti sample with respect to the CTRL sample.     

Rheological characterization of refrigerated and frozen non-fermented gluten-free dough: Effect of hydrocolloids and lipid phase

This work intended to study the rheological and textural behavior of gluten-free dough for “empanadas” and pie-crusts production. Traditionally, these products are made with non-fermented wheat-based dough. They are highly consumed in Latin America, but unsuitable for celiac people. Gluten matrix is a major determinant of the properties of dough, thus it must be replaced with other network forming components, such as hydrocolloids. Different hydocolloids were tested: hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and mixtures of xanthan/guar, and xathan/HPMC gums. Three different kinds of lipid phase were also studied; i.e. sunflower oil and low and high solid content margarine at two different levels (20–30%). Changes in rheological and textural properties during refrigerated storage were evaluated by dynamic oscillatory measurements and puncture and elongation tests on the unbaked dough. Best results were obtained using either of the hydrocolloid mixtures. Besides, the textural characteristics of cooked empanadas were also studied. Freezing before baking did not alter the quality of the crust in the products. ESEM micrographs revealed a continuous matrix formed by hydrocolloid entanglements. Starch granules were homogenously distributed in the dough and acted as inactive fillers. An untrained panel accepted the xanthan/HPMC dough with a 74/90 score and it was significantly preferred over a commercial gluten-free dough.     

Dough rheological properties and texture of gluten-free pasta based on proso millet flour

Proso millet (PM) is a gluten-free cereal grain with potential to be used in gluten-free product development. However, research on improving the rheological properties of PM dough is limited. In the present study, rheological and color characteristics of PM dough (37% moisture) were compared with the behavior of wheat dough. Three hydrocolloids [guar gum (GG), xanthan gum (XG) and sodium alginate (SA)] at concentrations of 0%, 1% and 2% were added to improve the physical properties of PM dough. The textural properties of PM dough developed pasta with hydrocolloids were also studied. Wheat dough presented a much higher apparent viscosity and elastic modulus than PM dough. Both the apparent viscosity and elasticity were increased by all three hydrocolloids, with 2% XG presenting the most pronounced improvement in elasticity. Generally, the capacity of hydrocolloids to improve the PM dough follow the order XG > GG > SA. The addition of hydrocolloids showed no significant impact on the color of PM dough. GG and XG showed an improvement in the network strength of PM pasta, while SA did not contribute to textural enhancement.     

Manufacture and characterization of pasta made with wheat flour rendered gluten-free using fungal proteases and selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria

Wheat flour, which was rendered gluten-free by sourdough lactic acid bacteria fermentation and fungal proteases, was used for manufacturing experimental gluten-free pasta (E-GFp), according to a traditional process with low temperature drying cycle. Chemical, technological, structural, nutritional and sensory features were characterized and compared with those of commercial gluten-free (C-GFp) and durum wheat pasta (C-DWp). As shown through immunological analyses, the residual concentration of gluten of the hydrolyzed wheat flour was below 10 ppm. E-GFp showed rapid water uptake and shorter optimal cooking time compared to the other pastas. Despite the absence of the gluten network, the supplementation with pre-gelatinized rice flour allowed structural properties of E-GFp, which were comparable to those of C-GFp. The in vitro protein digestibility of E-GFp resulted the highest. Probably due to proteolysis during sourdough fermentation; chemical scores, essential amino acid profile, biological value and nutritional index of E-GFp were higher than those of C-DWp. The hydrolysis index (HI) of E-GFp was ca. 30% lower than that found for C-GFp. As shown by sensory analysis, the characteristic of E-GFp were acceptable. The manufacture of E-GFp should be promising to expand the choice of gluten-free foods, which combine sensory and nutritional properties.     

Optimization of non-fermented gluten-free dough composition based on rheological behavior for industrial production of “empanadas” and pie-crusts

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by intolerance to gluten, which is found in wheat and similar proteins in barley, rye and oats. The present study was designed to examine the effects of the addition of gums, whey protein concentrate, dry egg, and water to corn and cassava starches on the rheological properties of a non-fermented dough used for the production of “empanadas” (a traditional meal in Latin América) and pie-crusts suitable for people with celiac disease. A 2⁴ full factorial design was chosen. Viscoelastic measurements and texture analysis (puncture and elongation tests) were performed. The increase in gums content and the decrease in water level produced an increase in both moduli (G′ and G″) and a more elastic dough was obtained. Higher protein contents interfered with the formation of the three-dimensional gum network making the dough less ductile. Texture analysis led to similar conclusions to those obtained by dynamic rheological analysis. Formulations containing higher percentages of gums and lower water content led to an appropriate behavior for industrial production of these doughs.     

Effect of milling,pasta making and cooking on minerals in durum wheat

The effect of technological processing on the contents of eight minerals – i.e., calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc – was investigated in pasta making. Milling of durum wheat as well as pasta making were carried out in a pilot plant by using three different grain samples. Pasta samples purchased on the market were also surveyed to gain information on the mineral content of commercial products. The effect of cooking was also investigated in order to determine the retention of the selected elements in the final ‘ready-to-eat’ product. Analyte concentrations in whole grains, semolina, pasta and cooked pasta were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.     

Evaluation of partial-vacuum baking for gluten-free bread: Effects on quality attributes and storage properties

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of partial-vacuum baking on the quality and storage properties of gluten-free bread (GFB). Conventional (180°C-30 min at atmospheric pressure) and partial-vacuum (180°C-15 min at atmospheric pressure and at 180°C-15 min at 60 kPa vacuum pressure) methods were conducted to bake GFB. Quality attributes (specific volume, colour, texture, total water loss) were assessed, DSC and SEM analyses were carried out to understand the effect on the bread's microstructure when using vacuum during baking. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the hardness and specific volume of the partial-vacuum baked GFB; however, changes in the total water loss and in the total colour change were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The DSC, SEM and XRD results showed that more crystalline structure and different starch crystal types formed after partial-vacuum baking. Storage properties were also investigated over a 3-day period. Partial-vacuum baking significantly affected the total water loss and the texture parameters (p < 0.05) during storage. Partial-vacuum baked samples were softer and had a tendency to become stale more slowly than the control. The findings indicate that the partial-vacuum baking method increases the shelf life of gluten-free products by modifying the microstructure of the bread.     

Developing gluten-free cereals and the role of proteomics in product safety

In the last decade the gluten free market has grown rapidly, driven by a greater awareness of coeliac disease and gluten intolerance, but also by consumers choosing to follow a gluten-free diet. This has resulted in a greater range of higher quality products being available, however the nutritional profile may still be inferior, and the taste and texture is not the same as traditional wheat-based products. Epitopes in glutenins and gliadins that cause coeliac disease are well characterised, and research efforts are focused on understanding the impact of environmental and management practices on the expression of these proteins, as well as strategies to remove these epitopes, both through conventional breeding and genetic engineering. Here we provide an overview of these research efforts, the potential impact on end product quality as well as current research to accurately quantify the gluten content in foods and beverages to ensure the safety of products for those who are required to avoid gluten for medical reasons.     

Evaluation of a new method to determine the water addition level in gluten-free bread systems

The water content in gluten-free recipes plays an essential role in the resulting product quality. Up to date the water adjustment is conducted mainly by trial-and-error. Brabender GmbH & Co. KG developed an attachment for the Farinograph, which makes the measurement of batter consistencies feasible. The water content was adjusted using this new tool and compared to the water determined based on the water hydration capacity (WHC) of the single bulking ingredients. Furthermore, bread quality characteristics were analysed. Five different hydrocolloids were tested in a gluten-free system based on rice flour. Water levels differed significantly, when guar gum (20% water) or sodium alginate (18% water) were incorporated. The use of Farinograph resulted generally in a higher specific volume (+0.63 ml/g) and a softer crumb (−16 N). On the contrary, the WHC-method only gave an indication about the water addition but did not consider temperature changes during mixing and its effect on the hydration. In conclusion, Farinograph can be considered as a useful tool for the determination of the optimal water content, and additionally provides useful information about batter stability and dough development time.     

The relationship between rheological characteristics of gluten-free dough and the quality of biologically leavened bread

The rheological characteristics of gluten-free doughs and their effect on the quality of biologically leavened bread were studied in amaranth, chickpea, corn, millet, quinoa and rice flour. The rheological characteristics (resistance to extension R, extensibility E, R/E modulus, extension area, stress at the moment of dough rupture) were obtained by uniaxial dough deformation. Specific loaf volume of laboratory prepared gluten-free breads was in significant positive correlation with dough resistance (r = 0.86), dough extensibility (r = 0.98) and peak stress at the moment of dough rupture (r = 0.96). Even if the correlation between R/E modulus and the characteristics of loaf quality were not significant, the breads with the highest specific loaf volume were prepared from flours with R/E closer to the wheat check sample (18 N?mm-1). The results showed, in general, good baking flours exhibited stronger resistance to extension and greater extensibility, but differences found were not directly related to the results of baking tests.     

Bacillolysin,papain, and subtilisin improve the quality of gluten-free rice bread

Protease has been shown to be an effective food additive for improving the quality of gluten-free rice bread. In this study, we found that bacillolysin (Protin SD-NY10, metallo protease), papain (cysteine protease), and subtilisin (Protin SD-AY10, serine protease) increased the specific volume of gluten-free rice breads by 30–60% compared with untreated breads. These proteases also decreased crumb hardness by 10–30% compared with untreated breads. Many fine bubble cells were observed in the crumb of the protease-treated rice breads using scanning electron microscopy. Optical microscopic observation revealed fine networks of small protein aggregates stained by Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB) in the rice batter of the improved gluten-free rice breads. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of protein in the rice batter suggested that the amount of low molecular weight proteins (less than 10 kDa) increased with the use of Protin SD-NY10, Protin SD-AY10 and papain treatments compared with untreated rice batter. Thus, we considered that the small proteins aggregates were formed through disulfide bonds. This fine network was effective for retaining CO₂ gas during the fermentation process, resulting in an increase in the specific volume and a decrease in the crumb hardness of gluten-free rice bread.     

Effect of processing on the beta-glucan physicochemical properties in barley and semolina pasta

A health claim linking the consumption of barley β-glucan and the lowering of blood cholesterol has been allowed in North America and Europe which resulted in increased interest in barley products. Waxy barley flour rich in β-glucan (10% d.b.) was used to produce barley functional spaghetti and compared to semolina spaghetti. The impact of processing (extrusion, drying and cooking) on the physicochemical properties of barley blends and pasta as the molecular characterization of β-glucan were investigated. Pasta processing did not significantly affect the amount of β-glucan, but it impacted the β-glucan physicochemical properties in the end products. In all pasta, extrusion and drying were detrimental to the β-glucan properties, while cooking significantly increased the extractability and molecular weight of β-glucan, and in turn its viscosity, which determines its physiological effectiveness. In general, replacing wheat semolina with barley flour rich in β-glucan resulted in improved barley pasta containing the recommended amount of β-glucan per serving and enhanced β-glucan properties.     

Biological utilization of vegetable peas: Effect of cooking and varietal differences

The flour of raw as well as cooked vegetable pea cultivars (Arkal and Bonneville) was used for biological evaluation of their protein quality. Cooking did not have a significant influence on the food intake. There were some differences in the food as well as protein intake and gain in body weights of rats when fed uncooked or cooked pea flour diets. Varietal differences did not seem to influence on apparent digestibility, true digestibility, biological value, net protein utilization and utilisable protein but cooking brought a significant (p<0.05) improvement in all of above mentioned parameters. Varietal differences as well as cooking exhibited no influence or serum protein concentration.