Chinese Steamed Bread Research Articles

Antifungal activities of Pediococcus pentosaceus LWQ1 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LWQ17 isolated from sourdough and their efficacies on preventing spoilage of Chinese steamed bread

The short shelf life of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) at room temperature due to moldy contamination restricts its popularity. This study aimed to evaluate two selected lactic acid bacteria strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LWQ17 (LWQ17) and Pediococcus pentosaceus LWQ1 (LWQ1), on their antifungal activities and potential applications in CSB making. The results showed that both strains, especially LWQ17, displayed remarkable inhibition against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium polonicum, the representative species found in CSB spoilage. LWQ17 and LWQ1 destroyed the cell membranes of the fungi and caused a loss of intracellular substances. When applied in CSB making, both strains could delay the germination of mold on the surface of CSB in a season-dependent way. LWQ17 delayed the germination of mold by 4 d in Spring and Winter, while 1 d in Summer and Autumn. Further study revealed that their antifungal activities were greatly influenced by temperatures and humidity. Both strains could completely inhibit the germination of mold during two weeks of storage under 37 °C but with different humidity levels. Moreover, our results demonstrated that acidic substances were crucial in inhibiting the fungi, while proteinic substances and hydrogen peroxide played an auxiliary role. Analysis of their acids by targeted metabolomics showed that LWQ17 produced more kinds of acids, and the amount of phenyllactic acid produced by LWQ17 was 60 times higher than that produced by LWQ1, which may explain its better antifungal efficacy. This study provides a reference for employing lactic acid bacteria in CSB preservation under different conditions.

Response of the distribution and molecular transition of gluten proteins and quality of Chinese steamed bread to different hydration levels

This study systematically explored how different hydration levels (45 %, 50 %, and 55 % water addition) affect the evolution of gluten network morphology, distribution, conformational and molecular transition, and moisture migration during the processing of Chinse steamed bread (CSB), and their impact on quality formation. Higher hydration levels resulted in a more uniform distribution and fibrous structure of the gluten network during mixing. However, excessive hydration (55 %) caused gluten fibers to rupture during fermentation. This increased the specific volume but decreased the chewiness and stickiness of CSB. MRI results highlighted that differences in moisture migration and internal structure among samples with different hydration levels were enlarged after steaming. AFM images revealed the increase in both protein molecular chain height and width with increasing hydration level, particularly after steaming. Moreover, high hydration levels promoted the depolymerization of glutenin macropolymers during mixing, fermentation, as well as repolymerization during cooking. These results indicated that both macroscopic qualities and molecular structure of gluten protein became more sensitive to the physical and biochemical processes during CSB processing. These dynamic transitions play a crucial role in determining dough rheological properties and CSB's overall quality. This research offers theoretical insights for precise dough product regulation and understanding underlying mechanisms.

Effects of heterotrophic Euglena gracilis powder on dough microstructure, rheological properties, texture, and nutritional composition of steamed bread

This study investigated the effects of incorporating different levels of Euglena gracilis microalgae powder (MP) on the dough properties, rheology, and quality attributes of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) for the first time. Moderate levels of MP (2%) reinforced the gluten network and improved protein structure, while higher levels (4–8%) adversely affected the gluten network and rheological properties. The addition of MP decreased the specific volume, pore number, and pore density of CSB, but increased pore size, hardness, and chewiness. It also imparted a yellow color to the CSB and slowed down moisture loss during storage. Notably, MP effectively increased the protein and lipid content of CSB, enhancing its nutritional value. The results suggest that optimizing the MP level is crucial to achieve nutritional enhancement while maintaining desirable texture and sensory attributes. An addition of 2% MP can strike a balance between nutrition and the overall quality of the final product.

Effect of sorghum bran addition on antioxidant activities, sensory properties, and in vitro starch digestibility of Chinese southern-style steamed bread.

Chinese steamed bread (CSB) is one of the most important staple foods in China and is also popular in South-East Asia. Developing functional CSB could improve people's resistance to inflammatory and non inflammatory diseases. This work investigated the effect of sorghum bran addition on antioxidant activities, sensory properties, and in vitro starch digestibility of Chinese southern-style steamed bread (CSSB). In this study, the enhanced CSSB with 0-200 g kg-1 of fine black and tannin (sumac) sorghum bran addition was developed. A small change in phenol content and antioxidant activity was observed at various stages in the processing procedure before steaming. Moreover, a high retention of antioxidant phenolics CSSB with sorghum bran addition was observed. Sorghum bran addition significantly increased the total phenol content and antioxidant activity of CSSB by 4.5-10 times, on average, relative to control. Sorghum bran addition significantly also increased the content of resistant starch, and significantly decreased in vitro starch digestibility in CSSB; these effects were likely due to the joint inhibitory effect of tannins and ferulic acid on starch digestibility. Interestingly, the sorghum bran breads scored higher or similar to control in sensory color preference and overall appearance, but lower on most textural and mouthfeel attributes. Sorghum bran addition significantly increased the antioxidant activity of CSSB and significantly decreased starch digestibility. Moreover, the color and appearance properties were maintained or improved. However, the sensorial textural attributes were negatively impacted by the sorghum bran substitutions. Strategies to improve the texture of bran-fortified breads would likely enhance their consumer acceptability. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Unraveling chemical changes associated with the sensory quality of Chinese steamed bread as altered by wheat flour type

Chinese steamed bread (CSB) is an important staple of the Chinese people, and its flavor profile is mostly affected by wheat varieties among others. This study selected wheat flour made from three different wheat varieties and investigated their contribution to the CSB flavor profile in terms of metabolism. Thirteen aroma-active compounds identified by GC-O were determined as the main contributors to the different aroma profiles of three CSBs. 350 sensory trait-related metabolites were obtained from five key modules via weighted gene co-expression network analysis. It was found that the sensory characteristics of CSBs made of different wheat flour were significantly different. The higher abundance of lipids in Yongliang No.4 (YL04) wheat flour was converted to large number of fatty acids in fermented dough, which led to the bitterness of CSB. Besides, the abundance in organic acids and fatty acids contributed to the sour, milky, wetness and roughness attributes of YL04-CSB. More fatty amides and flavonoids in Jiangsu Red Durum wheat flour contributed to the fermented and winey attributes of CSB. Carbohydrates with higher abundance in Canadian wheat flour was involved in sugar-amine reaction and glucose conversion, which enhanced the sweetness of CSB. In addition, fatty acids, organic acids, amino acids, and glucose were crucial metabolites which can further formed into various characteristic compounds such as hexanal, hexanol, 2,3-butanediol, acetoin, and 2,3-butanedione and thus contributed to the winey, fresh sweet, and green aroma properties. This study is conductive to better understand the evolution of the compounds that affect the quality and aroma of CSBs.

Characteristic aroma compounds during the fermentation of Chinese steamed bread fermented with different starters

The characteristic aroma compounds of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) fermented with different starters were studied using HS-SPME-GC/MS, aroma recombination and omission experiments. The dynamic changes of the microbiota and their function and metabolites during fermentation were analyzed using metagenomics and non-targeted metabolomics. Forty-nine volatile flavor compounds were identified, while 5 characteristic aroma-active compounds were investigated in CSB fermented with commercial dry yeast (AQ-CSB), and 10 were investigated in CSB fermented with traditional starter (NY-CSB). Microbial structure and function analysis showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae dominated during AQ-CSB fermentation and contributed >95% to its KEGG pathways, while Pediococcus pentosaceus, unclassified Pediococcus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis and unclassified Lactobacillus were predominant in NY-CSB and together had an ~96% contribution to these pathways. NY-CSB showed higher metabolic activity during fermentation, and the characteristic metabolites were mainly involved in carbohydrate, amino acid and lipid metabolism. The characteristic aroma compounds were identified and increased the understanding of the contributions of the microbiota. This may be useful for designing starter cultures that produce CSB with desirable aroma properties.

Effects of dextran molecular weight on starch retrogradation and technological properties of Chinese steamed bread: Based on the rubber/glass transition

From the perspective of rubber/glass transition, this study clarified that the impact of dextran on retarding hardening behavior and slowing starch retrogradation of Chinese Steamed Bread (CSB) depended on its molecular weight and concentration level. Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) model was fitted to explore critical behavior changes in rubber/glass transition of CSB. Incorporation of high molecular weight dextran enhanced the elasticity of dough and porosity of CSB, reduced the aging and hardening degree of CSB at appropriate addition levels. CSB hardness showed a growing tendency during storage, while macromolecular dextran reduced the hardness and retrogradation degree by 22.87 % and 67.53 %. Dextran with high molecular weights lowered the glass transition temperature (Tg) and improved the moisture sorption and molecular mobility of CSB under various relative humidity (RHs) conditions by providing hydrophilic sites or intermolecular space to bind water molecules. Meanwhile, it reinforced the binding between denatured gluten and gelatinized starch. Both of them devoted to starch retrogradation inhibition and stable quality maintenance of CSB. CSB is suggested to maintain stable quality at room temperature with RHs ≤33 % to prevent rubber/glass transition. This work provided theoretical guidance for fractionation application of dextran to regulate the quality and extend the shelf-life of flour products.

Effects of the coculture of Pediococcus pentosaceus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae with different leavening ability on the quality and volatile organic compounds of Chinese steamed bread

Pediococcus pentosaceus has a promising potential to improve the quality and flavor of Chinese steamed bread (CSB), but its synergistic effect with Saccharomyces cerevisiae is still unclear. In this study, P. pentosaceus was cocultured with three S. cerevisiae isolates separately, which had different leavening ability. The times required for the fermentation of dough by 2 times the volume of S. cerevisiae isolates ACX 0089, ACX 0490 and ACX 0078 were 46, 88 and 120 min, respectively. The results showed that the leavening ability of S. cerevisiae had a significant impact on the quality of CSBs. Compared other S. cerevisiae isolates, the ACX 0490 cocultured with P. pentosaceus increased the contents of bound water and free water in CSB, decreased the content of semibound water, and produced larger and regular porosity, thus endowed a greater specific volume and softer texture. A total of 36 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in CSBs, with alcohols accounting for the main component. The coculture of P. pentosaceus with the intermediate leavening ability of S. cerevisiae ACX 0490 produced the highest proportion of esters among all CSBs. Moreover, S. cerevisiae ACX 0490 endowed the CSB unique VOCs, including cyclodecanol, ethylacetate, and 3,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde. The results of sensory evaluation also showed that S. cerevisiae ACX0490 cocultured CSB obtained the highest scores among all the test samples. The results provided a reference for selecting S. cerevisiae isolates with different leavening ability and the combination of P. pentosaceus to achieve the best quality and flavor of CSB.

Effects of deacetylated konjac glucomannan on the quality characteristics, staling and digestion of Chinese steamed bread

This study aimed to explore the effect of deacetylated konjac glucomannan (DKGM) on the quality characteristics, staling, and digestive properties of Chinese steamed bread (CSB). The findings revealed that the addition of DKGM led to a larger specific volume, a lighter and more yellowish crumb color, and a softer texture of the CSB. Notably, 0.6% DKGM with a deacetylation degree (DD) of 50.26% integrated with the gluten network resulted in a more stable gluten structure in the dough and a 5.74% increase in the CSB specific volume, reaching 3.13 mL/g. Moreover, higher deacetylation of KGM (DD = 66.61%) significantly delayed CSB aging, as evidenced by factors such as freezable water content, staling rate, and starch crystallinity. High deacetylation of KGM exhibited the optimum digestive resistance of CSB. 1% KGM with high DD (DD = 66.61%) led to a 10.21% decrease in the rapidly digested starch content and a 3.98% decrease in the starch hydrolysis rate compared with the KGM, which might be attributed to highly deacetylated KGM may form stronger hydrogen bonds with starch. This study offered insights into the application of DKGM in advancing the industrialization of CSB.

Effect of Fucoidan on Structure and Bioactivity of Chinese Steamed Bread.

Fucoidan refers to a group of sulphated polysaccharides obtained from brown seaweed, with numerous biological activities. In this study, fucoidan was fortified into Chinese steamed bread (CSB) at different concentrations (0, 1%, 3% and 5%) and the effect of fucoidan on the dough properties, structure properties and bioactivity were investigated. The results showed that fucoidan could change the viscosity of unfermented dough, and a high concentration of fucoidan could remove the free radicals produced by the SH-SS exchange reaction (GS-) in the dough, which significantly reduced the content of disulfide bond and reduced the expanded volume of fermented dough (p < 0.05). In addition, fucoidan forms a physical barrier on the surface of starch particles and hinders the reaction between protein-to-protein; therefore, fucoidan increased the hardness, gumminess and chewiness in CSB, and reduced the specific volume in CSB. Furthermore, the fucoidan-fortified CSB samples were found to have both the ability to significantly reduce the predicted glycemic index (pGI) (p < 0.05) and improve antioxidant activity (p < 0.05). Collectively, these findings could provide a theoretical basis for the applications of fucoidan as a functional component in fermented foods.

Effects of whole wheat flour on frozen dough and steamed bread during freeze-thaw cycles

The research on Chinese steamed bread (CSB) with whole wheat flour (WWF) is limited and has not been discussed during freeze-thaw. This study investigated the effects of WWF addition on the dough and CSB quality during freeze-thaw cycles. The results of low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and dynamic rheological properties demonstrated that the WWF reduced the adverse changes of freeze-thaw treatment on the dough. Characteristics, texture, and cross section analysis of CSB showed that WWF (20%) could relatively maximize stability. To study the mechanism, arabinoxylan (AX) and water-extractable arabinoxylan (WEAX) from WWF were added to dough. Consistent with WWF, it was found that they could improve freeze-thaw tolerance of frozen dough and CSB. Meanwhile, WEAX (1.12%) could better increase quality and freeze-thaw tolerance of CSB. The results presented in the study indicate that the anti-freeze-thaw effects of WWF could be attributed to AX and WEAX.

Co-culture fermentation by Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and lactic acid bacteria improves bioactivity and aroma profile of wheat bran and the bran-containing Chinese steamed bread

Co-culture fermentation with yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exhibits advantages in improving the bioactivity and flavor of wheat bran compared to single-culture fermentation, showing application potentials in bran-containing Chinese steamed bread (CSB). To explore the effects of combination of yeast and different LAB on the bioactivity and flavor of fermented wheat bran, this study analyzed the physicochemical properties, phytate degradation capacity, antioxidant activities, and aroma profile of wheat bran treated with co-culture fermentation by Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and eight different species of LAB. Further, the phenolic acid composition, antioxidant activities, texture properties, aroma profile, and sensory quality of CSB containing fermented wheat bran were evaluated. The results revealed that co-culture fermentation brought about three types of volatile characteristics for wheat bran, including ester-feature, alcohol and acid-feature, and phenol-feature, and the representative strain combinations for these characteristics were S. fibuligera with Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Latilactobacillus curvatus, respectively. Co-culture fermentation by S. fibuligera and L. fermentum for 36 h promoted acidification with a phytate degradation rate reaching 51.70 %, and improved the production of volatile ethyl esters with a relative content of 58.47 % in wheat bran. Wheat bran treated with co-culture fermentation by S. fibuligera and L. curvatus for 36 h had high relative content of 4-ethylguaiacol at 52.81 %, and exhibited strong antioxidant activities, with ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging rates at 65.87 % and 69.41 %, respectively, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) at 37.91 μmol/g. In addition, CSB containing wheat bran treated with co-culture fermentation by S. fibuligera and L. fermentum showed a large specific volume, soft texture, and pleasant aroma, and received high sensory scores. CSB containing wheat bran treated with co-culture fermentation by S. fibuligera and L. curvatus, with high contents of 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-vinylguaiacol, ferulic acid, vanillin, syringaldehyde, and protocatechualdehyde, demonstrated strong antioxidant activities. This study is beneficial to the comprehensive utilization of wheat bran resources and provides novel insights into the enhancement of functions and quality for CSB.

Influence of Storage Temperature on Starch Retrogradation and Digestion of Chinese Steamed Bread.

Chinese steamed bread (CSB), which is widely consumed in East Asia, usually undergoes storage before consumption, but it is unclear how different storage temperatures affect CSB starch retrogradation and digestion properties, which are important for consumers. CSB was stored for 2 days at 25 °C, 4 °C, -18 °C, 4 °C/25 °C temperature cycling (i.e., 24 h at 4 °C, followed by 24 h at 25 °C) and -18 °C/ 25 °C temperature cycling. The results revealed for the first time that more orderly starch double helices are formed when CSB was stored at 4 °C or 4 °C/25 °C. Storage under -18 °C produced lower amounts of, but more heterogenous, starch double helices, with fewer B-type, but more V-type, crystallites. Compared to other storage temperatures, more long-range intermolecular interactions formed between the starch and protein at 4 °C or 4 °C/25 °C. CSB samples showed the slowest starch digestibility when stored at 4 °C. The impact of storage temperature on the starch retrogradation properties and digestibility of CSB also depended on the wheat variety, attributed to differences in the starch molecular structure. These results have significance and practical applications to help the CSB food industry to control starch retrogradation and digestibility. For example, CSB could be stored at 4 °C for 2 days in order to reduce its starch digestibility.

Enhancing acceptability of Chinese steamed bread through corn and oats blending: Formulation, physical, and sensory properties

This study aimed to elevate the sensory value of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) by incorporating a blend of oats and corn. Through meticulous formulation, we achieved an optimal amalgamation for oat and corn Chinese steamed bread (OCCSB), comprising 28 % Yunnan corn flour (with 36 % amylose), 6 % Sichuan corn flour (with 26 % amylose), and 2 % oat flour. Employing a comprehensive array of analytical techniques encompassing rheology, microscopy, color assessment, and sensory quality rating, we conducted a comparative study involving OCCSB, meticulously optimized CSB formulations, and commercially available corn-enriched CSBs (comprising 20 % or 25 % corn flour). OCCSB containing 34 % corn flour and 2 % oat flour could be a promising candidate, with the percentage of the corn flour content in the bread being about 1.51 times that of the commercial corn CSBs. OCCSB also had a higher gas porosity, spread ratio (1.38) and quality score (68.13), compared with the commercial corn CSBs. Its appealing visual profile was highlighted by a vivid yellow hue in both the crust and crumb. Furthermore, its unparalleled quality score outshone those of commercial alternatives. These noteworthy findings illuminate the potential of corn and oat as staple food ingredients, propelling advancements in the remarkable processing and practical application.

Solid-state fermentation by S. cerevisiae with high resistance to ferulic acid improves the physicochemical properties of wheat bran and quality of bran-rich Chinese steamed bread.

Wheat bran has numerous health benefits, but its poor processing and sensory properties limit its application in the staple food industry. Fermentation by S. cerevisiae changes the performance of wheat bran. However, high levels of ferulic acid (FA) inhibit S. cerevisiae. The effects of solid-state fermentation of S. cerevisiae with high resistance to FA on the physicochemical properties of wheat bran and the quality of bran-rich Chinese steamed bread (CSB) were investigated. The results showed that the growth of S. cerevisiae was inhibited by FA in a dose-dependent manner. Short-term adaptation strategies efficiently improved the tolerance of S. cerevisiae to FA stress. Compared with the parental strain (PS), fermentation of the short-term adapted strains (adapted strains) significantly increased the FA, total phenol, and soluble dietary fiber content in wheat bran. Wheat bran fermented by the adapted strains had a higher antioxidant capacity than wheat bran fermented by PS. In addition, compared with the PS, the wheat bran fermented by the adapted strains can decrease the hardness, improve the specific volume, and the quality of CSB. Thus, solid-state fermentation of the adapted strain is a potentially effective method to improve the nutritional and physicochemical properties of wheat bran as a cereal food ingredient.

HMW-GSs 1Dx3+1Dy12 contribute to a suitable wheat gluten strength that confers superior Chinese steamed bread quality.

The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of the high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) 1Dx3+1Dy12 (3+12) and 1Dx4+1Dy12 (4+12) at the Glu-D1 locus on gluten and Chinese steamed bread (CSB) quality. The grain protein content and composition, gluten content and gluten index, farinograph properties, and CSB quality were investigated using four wheat near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying HMW-GSs 1Dx2+1Dy12 (2+12), 3+12, 4+12 and 1Dx5+1Dy10 (5+10), respectively. The unextractable polymeric protein (UPP) and glutenin macropolymer (GMP) content, gluten index, dough development time, stability time, and farinograph quality number of four NILs all ranked as 5+10>3+12>2+12/4+12, such as the gluten index ranked as 5+10(44.88%)>3+12(40.07%)>2+12(37.46%)/4+12(35.85%); however, their contributions to the quality of CSB were ranked as 3+12>5+10>2+12/4+12, such as the specific volume ranked as 3+12(2.64mL/g)>5+10(2.49mL/g)>2+12(2.36mL/g)/4+12(2.35mL/g), which indicated that a suitable gluten strength (3+12) was crucial to making high-quality CSB. In addition, subunits 4+12 had a similar quality performance to low-quality subunits 2+12. All these findings suggested that, except for the acknowledged high-quality subunits 5+10, the introduction of 3+12 at the Glu-D1 locus is an efficient way for quality improvement of gluten as well as CSB.

Rapid analysis of Chinese steamed bread staling using Raman Spectroscopy

Rapid analysis of Chinese steamed bread staling using Raman Spectroscopy

Esterified wheat bran: Physicochemical properties, structure and quality improvement of Chinese steamed bread during refrigerated storage

To develop the application of wheat bran and improve the nutrition and anti-staling capacity of Chinese steamed bread (CSB), oleic acid-esterified wheat bran (OWB) was prepared by esterification of wheat bran with oleic acid, and its physicochemical properties, structure, and quality improvement for CSB during refrigerated storage were investigated. The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of OWB was 16.0, the maximum degree of substitution was 0.146, and its emulsifying capacity was similar to that of glycerol monostearate. The starch gelatinization degree of CSB containing 3 % OWB and the control decreased by 19.55 % and 27.12 % within 7 days of refrigerated storage, respectively, while the hardness of CSB with OWB was lower than that with wheat bran. OWB inhibited starch recrystallization and increased bound water in the corresponding CSB, which effectively delayed starch retrogradation. OWB had a positive emulsifying capacity and showed potential as a functional material for preventing retrogradation of starch-based foods.

Effect of partial substitution of wheat flour with kiwi starch on dough rheology, microstructure, the quality attributes and shelf life of Chinese steamed bread

Chinese steamed bread (CSB), a conventional high-GI staple food, with a short shelf life and a single flavor. In this work, 10–20 % kiwi starch (KS) was used to substitute wheat flour for the production of CSB and the effects of different substitution ratios on the quality and shelf life of mixed flour, dough, and CSB were explored. The results showed that the substitution of KS could improve the water binding capacity of mixed flour and lead to easier pasting in the system, lower the cooking power consumption, increase and improve the viscoelasticity and gas holding capacity of the dough, and make the microstructure more compact and uniform. As the substitution ratio increased, the reduction in protein content within the system further affected the formation of the gluten network, leading to a significant decrease in the CSB's specific volume and cohesiveness, whereas the chewiness and hardness were significantly improved. Meanwhile, KS substitution significantly reduced the starch hydrolysis rate and estimated glycemic index of CSB. 10 % KS substitution enriched the aroma and color of CSB, improved its internal organizational structure, and became more popular among consumers. A substitution ratio of 15–20 % was beneficial for extending the shelf life of CSB.

Characterization of wheat dough and Chinese steamed bread using mealworm powder formulated with medium-gluten and whole wheat flour.

Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae are nutritious edible insects and exhibit the potential to act as protein substitutes in food products. In this study, we added mealworm powder as a substitute to medium-gluten wheat and whole wheat flours to enhance the quality of baked products. We compared the pasting, farinograph and extensograph properties of medium-gluten wheat and whole wheat flours replaced with different concentrations of mealworm powder to explore the interactions between flour and mealworm powder. Mealworm powder changed the pasting characteristics of medium-gluten wheat and whole wheat flours. After adding 20% mealworm powder, the pasting temperature of the medium-gluten wheat flour remained unchanged (approximately 89.9 °C), while the pasting temperature of whole wheat flour increased from 88.83 to 90.27 °C. Water absorption of medium-gluten and whole wheat flours exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing mealworm powder concentrations. Mealworm powder substitution resulted in stronger medium-gluten dough but exerted an opposite effect on the farinograph properties of whole wheat dough. Mealworm powder substitution decreased the stretching resistance of medium-gluten dough but increased that of whole wheat dough. With an increase in the concentration of mealworm powder, the specific volume of medium-gluten wheat steamed bread significantly increased from 1.69 mL g-1 (M0) to 3.31 mL g-1 (M10) whereas that of whole wheat steamed bread increased from 1.64 mL g-1 (M0) to 2.34 mL g-1 (M15). The addition of mealworm powder increased the protein, dietary fiber, lipid and sodium contents of steamed bread samples. This study provides a reference for the rheological properties of medium-gluten wheat and whole wheat flours substituted with mealworm powder and supports the addition of insects as a protein source in food products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.