Physico-Chemical and Sensory Evaluation of Gluten-Free Cakes Made with Teff (Eragrostis tef)

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The objective of this work was to elaborate cakes with different percentages of teff, to determine chemical, physical and sensory characteristics to evaluate teff flour potential in cakes. Methods Cakes formulations were compared: T1 – 100% teff flour, T2 – 75% teff flour, 12,5% rice flour, 12,5% cassava starch, T3 – 50% teff flour, 25% rice flour, 25% cassava starch and T4 – 25% teff flour, 37,5% rice flour, 37,5% cassava starch. Proximate composition was evaluated. All treatments had their height and weight analyzed before and after baking. Weight loss was calculated by weight difference before and after baking and yield was measured after baking and divided by the weight of the raw dough before baking. Cakes crust and crumb colors were determined using a colorimeter and expressed by luminosity (L), chromaticity (a* and b*) and firmness was evaluated using the Stable Micro Systems texturometer. All the analyses were performed in triplicate. 60 non-celiac judges of both genders were randomly and voluntarily recruited from the University and evaluated acceptability and purchase intention, according to the hedonic scale. The results were evaluated by variance analysis and the means compared by Tukey test (P ≤ 0.05). For sensory analysis this study was approved by ethics Committee and received protocol n° 63,481,317.0.0000.5347. Results The results showed that higher percentages of teff increased total levels of ash and did not alter the protein content. In the physical analyses, the highest concentrations of teff did not alter after-baking height, before and after baking weight, yield, and also, color and luminosity of cakes crumb. About sensory analysis the attributes appearance, color and odor did not show significantly difference among the treatments. Treatment T1 was the one that received the lowest mean (5.03), which according to the hedonic scale would be “I did not like it nor did I dislike it”. Regarding the purchase intention, the different treatments of processed cakes, did not show significantly difference between treatments T3 and T2 (3.25 and 3.08 - “I doubt if I would buy”). The treatments T2, T3 and T4 obtained acceptance rates higher than 70%. Conclusions The use of teff flour in cakes could be a promising alternative for celiac people and those cannot consume gluten. Funding Sources To Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul for financial support.