Investigation of the effects of corn flour, Spirulina powder, and buffalo yogurt on the quality characteristics of gluten-free muffins.

This study aimed to investigate the properties of buckwheat flour-based gluten-free muffins formulated by using corn flour (CF), Spirulina powder (SP), and buffalo yogurt (BY) levels as the factors in the Box-Behnken experimental design. The color values, total soluble polyphenol content (TPC), radical scavenging activity (RSA), specific volume, moisture content, and baking loss results were evaluated as the response variables in the design. The buckwheat flour in the control sample was substituted with CF and SP. Cow yogurt was used in the control muffin instead of milk and was substituted with BY at different levels in other samples. Among the response variables, TPC and RSA values were selected for the optimization studies. Decreasing the CF and SP levels in the formulations resulted in observing higher TPC and RSA values. Three optimal formulations were obtained by response surface methodology. Both cow and buffalo yogurt did not change the properties of the muffins adversely compared to milk. Increasing the SP content made the muffins firmer and caused a decrease in the L*, a*, b*, and browning index values of the muffins. However, sensory scores of SP-containing muffins were also satisfactory.

Quality characteristics of gluten-free cookies made of buckwheat, corn, and rice flour with/without transglutaminase.

Buckwheat is one of the most valuable pseudo-cereals in terms of its nutritional composition, and it is suitable for celiac patients because of its gluten-free characteristic. However, gluten is the main structure-forming protein responsible for the development of structure in baked products. Therefore, it is a challenge to produce high-quality gluten-free products. Transglutaminase addition is a relatively common application used in the production of gluten-free baked goods. The objective of this study was to investigate the combination of buckwheat flour with rice and corn flour at different levels in gluten-free cookie formulations and the impact of transglutaminase on the quality of cookies. Quality parameters evaluated were proximal chemical composition, spread ratio, color, and textural parameters (hardness and fracturability). Spread ratio, protein, crude fiber, ash content, and also b* and hardness values were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by flour combinations. Further, addition of transglutaminase resulted in increased moisture content, spread ratio, and fracturability but decreased hardness values.

Functional characteristics of egg white proteins within wheat, rye, and germinated-rye sourdoughs.

Egg white (EW) proteins are functional proteins, which possess certain biological activities (antimicrobial, antigenic, and peptidase-inhibitory) that may influence the food processing or vice versa can be affected by processing. This study investigated the behavior of EW proteins within sourdough systems with respect to proteolysis and fermentation parameters, and the ability of EW to build foam structures with sourdoughs. Of the EW proteins, ovotransferrin was hydrolyzed in all sourdoughs (wheat, rye, and germinated-rye), whereas the breakdown of ovalbumin was specific for germinated-rye sourdoughs, with the cysteine endopeptidases being responsible for the hydrolysis. The presence of EW in sourdough fermentations had no influence on the prolamin hydrolysis or the growth of starter culture, indicating that the peptidase-inhibitory and antimicrobial properties of EW play no important role in sourdoughs. EW foams, however, appeared as potential structure builders in sourdough applications and could serve as alternative structural agents in the production of baked goods with low gluten content.