Texture and bio-functional characteristics of a Chinese steamed bread prepared from lotus root powder partially replacing wheat flour

Making low GI of the Chinese steamed bread (CSB) with acceptable eating quality is a challenge. A CSB prepared from wheat flour partially substituted by lotus root powder (LRP) showed good prospects. RVA profile and texture profile were determined to evaluate the texture, while animal test were used to confirm the bio-functional attributes. The addition of LRP effectively changed the RVA profile of lotus-wheat incorporated flour (LWIF). CSB prepared from 30% LWIF showed acceptable eating quality with higher springiness, cohesiveness, and recovery while lower hardness. After 12 weeks of 30% LWIF administrating, the fast blood glucose of diabetic rat decreased from 17.6 to 5.8 mmol/L together with the reduction of serum TC, TG and LDL-C. The hepatic histopathological examination and serum levels changes of SOD, CAT and FFA confirmed LWIF could effectively protect the liver of the diabetic rats from damage caused by oxidative stress.

Effects of Different Amylose Contents of Foxtail Millet Flour Varieties on Textural Properties of Chinese Steamed Bread

In order to improve the nutritional value and quality of steamed bread, and promote the industrial development of the whole-grain food industry, a texture analyzer was used to study the effects of cultivars of whole foxtail millet flour (WFMF) on the texture of Chinese steamed bread (CSB). Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was also conducted. The addition of different cultivars of WFMF significantly altered the height–diameter ratio, specific volume, hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of CSB (p < 0.05). Large amounts of foxtail millet flour significantly increased the hardness, gumminess and chewiness of the bread (p < 0.05), and the bread height–diameter ratio, specific volume, cohesiveness and springiness significantly decreased (p < 0.05). We screened sensory evaluation, chewiness, specific volume, and hardness as the signature differences in the quality components according to the variable influence on the projection (VIP) values. OPLS-DA could distinguish the addition levels of different samples.