Abstract: | Commercial whey protein concentrate (CWPC) treated with heat or with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) was incorporated by replacement into wheat flour, and its effects on dough rheology and the quality of cookies, noodles, and bread were evaluated. Wheat flour fortified with heat- or HHP-treated CWPC produced smaller cookies than those fortified with untreated CWPC. Increasing the fortification level of heat- or HHP-treated CWPC from 5 to 10% further decreased cookie diameter. The water absorption for noodle dough decreased by 5% with 10% fortification of untreated CWPC. Both heat- and HHP-treated CWPC increased water absorption from 33% in the control to 35.8%. Incorporation of untreated CWPC decreased the lightness (L*) value of Cantonese noodle dough, while dough fortified with heat- or HHP-treated CWPC had higher L* values compared to those of the control. Yellowness (b*) was improved with incorporation of both untreated and treated CWPC. Cooking loss of Cantonese noodles fortified with untreated or heat- or HHP-treated CWPC was comparable to or lower than that of the control. Incorporation of untreated CWPC increased hardness and cohesiveness of Cantonese noodles. Noodles fortified with heat- or HHP-treated CWPC had similar hardness and were softer than the control and the noodles fortified with untreated CWPC. Wheat flour fortified with 10% untreated CWPC produced wet and sticky bread dough and a small loaf (730 mL). Handling properties of dough were improved and bread volume was increased by 50 mL when heat- or HHP-treated CWPC was incorporated. Incorporation of 10% CWPC increased protein content of bread up to 20.2% and also increased the proportion of essential amino acids. |