Combined effect of hydrothermal treatments and drying temperature on the physicochemical, milling, and nutritional characteristics of foxtail millet

Abstract

Continuing practice of enhancing palatability and decortication yield of grain, in the present study combined effect of hydrothermal (soak-boil-SB & soak-steam-SS) treatments and drying temperature on physicochemical and milling characteristics of foxtail millet have been evaluated. Results revealed that hydrothermal treatments followed by drying have a significant (p ≤ 0.05) affect on the physicochemical properties of foxtail millet. Head grain yield (HGY) increased by 18.28% in SB treatment and 22.99% in SS-treatment, however, with an increase in the drying temperature, HGY decreased by 2.32–2.88%. The hardness of grains increased by 43.88% in SB, and 70.32% in SS treatments. Owing to more husk removal of 6.70–12.26% in these treatments, decortication yield increased, while brokens decreased by 72.92–91.44%, paving the way for better recovery of HGY. An interesting aspect of hydrothermal treatments was 1.57-fold higher bran separation from decorticated SS40 sample. Hydrothermal treatments and drying temperatures enhanced total carbohydrates decreased components decreased other constituents. Closeness in dimensional properties depicts positive correlation in decorticated foxtail millet as revealed by cluster analysis in the dendrogram. Both hydrothermal treatments significantly decreased the pasting parameters whereas decortication significantly decreased the in-soluble dietary fiber of the whole millet, however, soluble dietary fiber increased by 21.38%.