Characterization of sorghum grain and evaluation of sorghum flour in a Chinese egg noodle system

Sorghum is a gluten free grain that has potential to be used as an alternative to wheat flour for the Celiac Sprue market. There are thousands of sorghum lines that have not been characterized for grain, flour or end product quality. The objective of the research was to gain an understanding among grain sorghum quality factors and Chinese egg noodles quality. Four sorghum hybrids were characterized and evaluated for kernel characteristics, proximate analysis, flour composition and end product in a Chinese egg noodle system. Kernel size and weight affected the flour particle size and the amount of starch damage. Flour with fine particle size and high starch damage conferred noodles with high firmness and high tensile strength. Water uptake was highest for flour with smaller particle size (38 μm at 50% volume) and higher starch damage (6.14%). Cooking losses for all samples were below 10%. Starch of particle size <5 μm (C-type) contributed to firmer and higher tensile strength noodles. Water absorption was significantly affected by flour particle size, starch particle size and starch damage. Through control of sorghum grain and flour quality characteristics it is possible to manufacture a Chinese egg noodle with good physical attributes.