Abstract
Progress in breeding of intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), a perennial grain with environmental benefits, has enabled bran removal. Thus, determination of optimum milling conditions for production of refined flours is warranted. This study explored the effect of tempering conditions on intermediate wheatgrass flour properties, namely composition, color, solvent retention capacity, starch damage, and polyphenol oxidase activity. Changes in flour attributes were evaluated via a 3 × 3 × 2 factorial design, with factors targeting moisture (comparing un-tempered controls to samples of 12% and 14% target moisture), time (4, 8, and 24 h), and temperature (30 and 45 °C). All investigated parameters were significantly affected by target moisture; however, samples tempered to 12% moisture showed few differences to those tempered to 14%. Similarly, neither tempering time nor temperature exerted pronounced effects on most flour properties, indicating water uptake was fast and not dependent on temperature within the investigated range. Lactic acid retention capacity significantly correlated with ash (r = −0.739, p < 0.01), insoluble dietary fiber (r = −0.746, p < 0.01), polyphenol oxidase activity (r = −0.710, p < 0.01), starch content (r = 0.841, p < 0.01), and starch damage (r = 0.842, p < 0.01), but not with protein (r = 0.357, p > 0.05). In general, tempering resulted in flour with less bran contamination but only minor losses in protein.
Highlights
Consumers are increasingly interested in sustainably produced food ingredients, and alternative agricultural models have emerged to emphasize factors such as diversity and environmental concerns [1].Perennial grains have the potential to become serious contenders in the cereal market place, provided that their quality matches the requirements of manufacturers as well as expectations of consumers [2].The motivation for their use stems from their efficient use of water, fertilizers, and soil nutrients because of their extended root systems [3]
It has been shown that cultivation of the perennial grain intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium, IWG) dramatically lowers environmental strains such as nitrate leaching [4]
As there are currently no tempering conditions established for IWG, this study explored the effects of kernel moisture, tempering temperature, and tempering time on chemical characteristics of IWG
Summary
Perennial grains have the potential to become serious contenders in the cereal market place, provided that their quality matches the requirements of manufacturers as well as expectations of consumers [2]. The motivation for their use stems from their efficient use of water, fertilizers, and soil nutrients because of their extended root systems [3]. Aside from sustainability aspects, the nutritional profile of IWG is one of its advantages for food use, due to protein and dietary fiber contents that surpass those of many other cereal grains, including wheat [5,6,7]. The short domestication history of this perennial grain is reflected in a rather narrow endosperm, which, has been successfully increased by breeding efforts
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