Fibre enrichment of wheat flour with mesquite (Prosopis spp.): Effect on breadmaking performance and staling

Novel flours from leguminosae (Neltuma ruscifolia) pods for technological improvement and nutritional enrichment of wheat bread

Wheat bread is widely consumed in many Western cultures (>70 kg/per capita/year) despite the fact that the flour milling process reduces the content of dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals resulting in baked goods nutritionally poor. Vinal (Neltuma or Prosopis ruscifolia) fruit is an American carob that can be grinded to obtain different fractions such as endocarp, seeds, residue and the whole pod flours. The objective of the work was to analyse the chemical compositions, colour and physical, functional and hydration properties of grinding fractions from vinal (Neltuma ruscifolia); and also, study their application in wheat bread and their effect on rheological, textural and organoleptic characteristics. The obtained flours showed to be a good source of proteins (>30% seed flour) and dietary fibre (>38% endocarp flour), with good physical and functional properties, denoting its suitability as promising novel ingredients for the design and formulation of nutritionally enriched wheat breads. The addition of vinal flours (5%) in replacement of wheat flour in a traditional bread significantly affected the rheology, giving as results less extensive doughs. The bread loaf showed a lower specific volume, and firmer and darker colour with brown tone crumbs. Sensory analysis revealed a good degree of acceptance for the enriched breads (with the best values for residue flour) suggesting that these novel flours would be suitable as ingredients for bakery products with good nutritional profile.

Influence of Wheat-Mesquite (Prosopis L.) Composite Flour on Dough Rheology and Quality of Bread

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of wheat-mesquite composite flour on the rheology of dough and the quality of bread. The farinographic analysis showed a decrease in the development time and stability of the dough with an increase in the mixing tolerance index. The share of mesquite flour increased the value of loss and storage moduli and reduced the dough’s susceptibility to stress. The mesquite flour addition increased the bread volume by about 17% and the number of large pores >5 mm. The brightness of the crumb containing mesquite flour decreased from 75.3 to 58.6 and the proportion of yellow colour increased from 19.9 to 26.4 in relation to the control bread. The bread with mesquite flour had a significantly softer crumb during storage in comparison with wheat bread, indicating a reduction in the staling. These observations were also confirmed by lowering the disintegration enthalpy of the retrograded amylopectin from 3.33 J/g for the control sample to 1.95 J/g for the bread containing 10% of mesquite flour.

Natural plant fibers obtained from agricultural residue used as an ingredient in food matrixes or packaging materials: A review

Every year, agrifood activities generate a large amount of plant byproducts, which have a low economical value. However, the valorization of these byproducts can contribute to increasing the intake of dietary fibers and reducing the environmental pollution. This review presents an overview of a wide variety of agricultural wastes applied in the formulation of different food products and sustainable packaging. In general, the incorporation of fibers into bakery, meat, and dairy products was successful, especially at a level of 10% or less. Fibers from a variety of crops improved the consistency, texture, and stability of sauce formulations without affecting sensory quality. In addition, fiber fortification (0.01-6.4%) presented considerable advantages in terms of rheology, texture, melting behavior, and fat replacement of ice cream, but in some cases had a negative impact on color and mouthfeel. In the case of beverages, promising effects on texture, viscosity, stability, and appetite control were obtained by the addition of soluble dietary fibers from grains and fruits with small particle size. Biocomposites used in packaging benefited from reinforcing effects of various plant fiber sources, but the extent of modification depended on the matrix type, fiber pretreatment, and concentration. The information synthesized in this contribution can be used as a tool to screen and select the most promising fiber source, fiber concentration, and pretreatment for specific food applications and sustainable packaging.

Green Bean, Pea and Mesquite Whole Pod Flours Nutritional and Functional Properties and Their Effect on Sourdough Bread

In this study, proximal composition, mineral analysis, polyphenolic compounds identification, and antioxidant and functional activities were determined in green bean (GBF), mesquite (MF), and pea (PF) flours. Different mixtures of legume flour and wheat flour for bread elaboration were determined by a simplex-centroid design. After that, the proximal composition, color, specific volume, polyphenol content, antioxidant activities, and functional properties of the different breads were evaluated. While GBF and PF have a higher protein content (41-47%), MF has a significant fiber content (19.9%) as well as a higher polyphenol content (474.77 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant capacities. It was possible to identify Ca, K, and Mg and caffeic and enolic acids in the flours. The legume-wheat mixtures affected the fiber, protein content, and the physical properties of bread. Bread with MF contained more fiber; meanwhile, PF and GBF benefit the protein content. With MF, the specific bread volume only decreased by 7%. These legume flours have the potential to increase the nutritional value of bakery goods.

Overcoming bread quality decay concerns: main issues for bread shelf life as a function of biological leavening agents and different extra ingredients used in formulation. A review

As is widely accepted, the quality decay of freshly baked bread that affects product shelf life is the result of a complex multifactorial process that involves physical staling, together with microbiological, chemical and sensorial spoilage. In this context, this paper provides a critical review of the recent literature about the main factors affecting shelf life of bread during post-baking. An overview of the recent findings about the mechanism of bread staling is firstly provided. Afterwards, the effect on staling induced by baker's yeasts and sourdough as well as by the extra ingredients commonly utilized for bread fortification is also addressed and discussed. As inclusion/exclusion criteria, only papers dealing with wheat bread and not with long-life bread or gluten-free bakery products are taken into consideration. Despite recent developments in international scientific literature, the whole mechanism that induces bread staling is far from being completely understood and the best analytical methods to be adopted to measure and/or describe in depth this process appear still debated. In this topic, the effects induced on bread shelf life by the use of biological leavening agents (baker's yeasts and sourdough) as well as by some extra ingredients included in the bread recipe have been individuated as two key issues to be addressed and discussed in terms of their influence on the kinetics of bread staling. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Thermal Reduction of Bacillus spp. in Naturally Contaminated Mesquite Flour with Two Different Water Activities

ABSTRACT

Mesquite flour with endogenous high sugar content is often contaminated with Bacillus cereus. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the thermal resistance of Bacillus spp. in naturally contaminated mesquite flour. Flours with and without adjusted water activity (aw) were treated at various temperatures (100 to 140°C) and times (up to 2 h). Total mesophilic bacteria and Bacillus spp. were enumerated using tryptic soy agar and Brilliance Bacillus cereus Agar, respectively. Results revealed that naturally contaminated Bacillus spp. and other mesophilic bacteria in mesquite flour (aw = 0.34) were highly resistant to heat. To reduce the initial populations (4.75 log CFU/g) of Bacillus spp. to nondetectable levels (<1.18 log CFU/g), thermal treatments of 120°C for 2 h were required. D100°C-values for total mesophilic bacteria were 5.6-fold higher than those of Bacillus spp. With increasing treatment temperature, the difference in D-value between total mesophilic bacteria and Bacillus spp. became smaller. When the aw of flour was adjusted from 0.34 to 0.71, the D-values for Bacillus decreased significantly. Treatment at 100°C for 1 h reduced Bacillus spp. populations to nondetectable levels. Our results demonstrate that naturally present Bacillus spp. in flour are highly resistant to heat, whereas increasing the aw increased their heat sensitivity. The high thermal resistance of microbes in mesquite flour warrants further investigations.

HIGHLIGHTS

Nutritional quality and staling of wheat bread partially replaced with Peruvian mesquite (Prosopis pallida) flour

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of partially replacing two types of wheat flour (low ash content [type 55] and high ash content [type 65]) with Peruvian Prosopis pallida (mesquite) pod flour (0, 5, 10, 15%) on the nutritional quality and staling of composite breads. Mesquite flour (MF) enhanced the nutritional quality by increasing the fibre contents and unsaturated fatty acids of the bread. MF did not affect crumb hardness either when prepared with wheat flour type 65 (p = 0.374) or 55 (p = 0.122), but reduced crumb resilience (p < 0.001) and water activity (p = 0.003) in both wheat flour types. When blended with wheat flour type 55, increasing levels of MF delayed the dehydration (p < 0.001) and resilience loss rates. Likewise, the higher the MF level, the slower the crumb hardening of composite breads formulated with wheat flour type 55 (p = 0.028). Thus, MF did not only enhance the nutritional profile of composite breads, but could also retard staling as a supplement of wheat flour type 55.

Nutritive and Bioactive Properties of Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) Flour and Its Technological Performance in Breadmaking

Although the nutritional profile, bioactivities, and uses of mesquite pod flour from various Prosopis species have been studied, limited research has been conducted on Prosopis pallida (Humb, & Bonpl. Ex Willd.) Kunth mesquite flour. This study aimed to characterize the nutritional quality and bioactive properties of P. pallida pod flour and to assess its technological performance in breadmaking as a partial replacer of white wheat flour. Peruvian P. pallida mesquite flour was found to have an appealing nutritional profile, with high contents of dietary fiber (29.6% dw) and protein (9.5% dw), and low contents of fat (1.0% dw) and carbohydrates (57.6% dw). It is a source of palmitic (12.6%), oleic (35.5%), and linoleic acids (45.8%), α-, β-, and γ- tocopherols, and contains phenolic compounds such as apigenin glycoside derivatives with proven antioxidant capacities. Extracts of P. pallida flour were also found to have antimicrobial and antifungal effects and did not show hepatoxicity. When formulated as a wheat flour replacer, increasing mesquite flour levels yield composite doughs of lower stickiness and extensibility, and composite breads of lower elasticity (p < 0.01). However, up to a level of 10%, mesquite flour significantly increases loaf volume, reduces crumb hardness, and produces a more uniform crumb of small size alveoli (p < 0.01). Considering the purpose of improving the nutritional and technological quality of wheat flour bread, the addition of P. pallida pod flour can be highly recommended.

The effects of oleaster flour, active gluten and sucrose replacement with potassium acesulfame and isomalt on the qualitative properties of functional sponge cakes

Abstract Oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) is a fruit with special nutraceutical value which grows under a wide range of climatic conditions in Europe and Asia. In the present study, the effects of oleaster flour (15%, 30% and 45%) and active gluten at (0 and 3%) on the physical, chemical and sensory properties of sponge cakes were assessed. The best sample was selected based on the qualitative properties and compared with the control with respect to the staling rate and nutritional aspects. In order to decrease the calories, the sucrose content of the selected sample was replaced with potassium acesulfame and isomalt at the levels of 30%, 50% and 70%. Oleaster flour increased the density but decreased the hardness and cohesiveness of the cake. Active gluten decreased the density and hardness but increased the cohesiveness and springiness. Considering the qualitative properties of the sponge cakes, the sample containing 30% oleaster flour and 3% gluten (30 OFG) was selected as the best. Replacement of the sucrose in 30 OFG increased the hardness, density, redness and yellowness of the crumb. With 30% sucrose replacement, the quality of the product was adequately maintained. The use of oleaster significantly increased the calcium, potassium, crude fibre, fat and total phenolic compound contents of the sponge cakes as compared to the control. The sample containing 30% oleaster flour and 3% gluten with 30% sucrose replacement showed appropriate physicochemical, textural and sensory properties.

Technological quality of dough and breads from commercial algarroba-wheat flour blends

Algarroba flour is used to supplement lysine-limiting systems such as wheat flour due to its amino acidic composition. The effects of adding up to 30% of this flour to wheat flour (W-A30) on dough characteristics and breadmaking performance were studied. Dough rheology was tested by farinograph, oscillatory rheometry and texture profile analyses. Molecular mobility was evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal properties were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry and viscoamylograph studies. Besides, different bread quality parameters were evaluated. Incorporation of algarroba flour resulted into increase in water absorption, development time and degree of softening, and decrease in stability of wheat flour, leading to softer, less adhesive and elastic dough, although at intermediate replacement levels cohesiveness improved. At the molecular level, a reduction of water activity and limited proton motion were observed in W-A30 samples, suggesting that protons were highly bound to the dough matrix. Dough samples with algarroba flour showed lower G' and G″ values than the control, although with the formation of a more elastic structure for W-A30. In addition, algarroba flour produced a protective effect on starch granule disruption and interfered with amylose-amylose association during cooling. The specific volume of breads decreased with the increase in algarroba level, W-A30 reaching the highest decrease (15%). Bread crumbs with algarroba flour exhibited higher values of hardness and resilience. The use of algarroba flour resulted in lower quality when compared to the control. However, algarroba flour at 20% level can be added to wheat flour to obtain bakery products of similar technological quality and with improved nutritional components.

Interactions between soluble dietary fibers and wheat gluten in dough studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Four soluble dietary fiber (SDF) fractions characterized by major components of AXs, relatively narrow molecular weight distribution, different substituted ratio, and structure-sensitive parameter (ρ) were prepared from wheat bran. The fractions were added to wheat dough to determine the interactions between the dough's network and the SDF fractions relative to their physicochemical characteristics. Furthermore, a comprehensive study focusing on the dough texture characteristic, tensile properties, thermodynamic stability, and the microstructure was conducted by performing texture profile analysis (TPA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) experiments. Additionally, an estimation function of the interactions parameters between the dough's network and the SDF fractions related to the factor molecular weight and ρ of the SDFs was established. The results indicated that the SDF fractions exhibiting a medium molecular weight, and a higher substitution degree and di-substituted ratio, were the most suitable fortifier providing benefits to the dough's qualities. Furthermore, the research methodology might support the high potential of SDF fractions as fortifier for flour-based products.