QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF GLUTEN-FREE CHICKEN NUGGETS EXTENDED WITH SORGHUM FLOUR

Abstract

Application of coarse cereal flours is recommended to replace wheat gluten in meat products and to avoid gluten allergy in susceptible populations. Sorghum flour is a good source of dietary fiber and provides nonglutinous flours and scope for making gluten-free meat products. Keeping this in view, the present research was envisaged to evaluate the different quality characteristic of gluten-free chicken nuggets prepared with sorghum flour. Three types of chicken nuggets viz., Control chicken nuggets (CCNs), gluten-free nuggets (GFN1 with 5% sorghum flour and GFN2 with 10% sorghum flour) were compared for different physicochemical, instrumental texture, color and sensory characteristics. Use of sorghum flour significantly (P < 0.05) increased the product yield and dietary fiber content in GFN1 and GFN2 as compared with CCN. Instrumental color results showed that lightness (L* value) and redness (a*) values were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in GFN1 and GFN2 as compared with CCN. Texture profile analysis indicated that incorporation of sorghum flour significantly (P < 0.05) improved hardness, gumminess and chewiness. Sensory scores of GFN1 and CCN were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than GFN2. It was concluded that that 5% sorghum flour is optimum to prepare gluten-free chicken nuggets. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Sorghum is coarse millet and a popular staple diet in many developing countries. The results of this study support that sorghum flour can serve as a functional ingredient in developing healthy meat products. Use of sorghum flour in the formulation of wheat free meat products is an alternative to avoid gluten allergy. These gluten-free meat products have potential to reach the niche markets and will be highly acceptable to gluten allergic consumers who demand gluten-free products. Therefore, sorghum based food products can be marketed as health/functional products.