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This study investigated the variations in the characteristics of brans obtained from a pilot-scale milling of 17 soft red winter wheat varieties and their influences on the quality of whole wheat northern-style Chinese steamed bread (CSB) prepared from blends of a base flour, brans of different wheat varieties and vital gluten. Protein, starch, total dietary fiber (DF), water extractable arabinoxylan (WEAX) and total phenolic contents of brans ranged from 14.3 to 19.1%, 12.0–19.4%, 43.5–50.3%, 0.69–1.35% and 14.3–18.9 mg/g, respectively. Surface smoothness, crumb structure and stress relaxation scores of whole wheat CSB ranged from 3.0 to 9.5, 6.5–12.5 and 24.3–34.3, respectively. Bran bound and total phenolic contents exhibited negative relationships with CSB surface smoothness and crumb structure. Bran WEAX content showed positive relationships with CSB specific volume, surface smoothness and stress relaxation scores. Bran insoluble DF content was negatively related to CSB stress relaxation score. Bran protein and starch contents showed negative and positive relationships, respectively, with CSB spread ratio score. Cluster analysis of wheat brans based on CSB surface smoothness and crumb structure indicated that bran with a low protein content, low bound and total phenolic contents, and high starch and WEAX contents is desirable for making whole wheat CSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality characteristics of northern-style Chinese steamed bread (CSB) prepared from two soft red winter (SRW) wheat flours blended with 0–30% waxy wheat flour (WWF) were analyzed to estimate the influence of starch amylose content. The increased proportion of WWF in blends raised mixograph absorption with insignificant changes in protein content and dough strength-related parameters. WWF incorporation generally increased specific volume and crumb softness of CSB. The analysis of covariance revealed that CSB quality attributes were little affected by protein content and dough strength-related parameters, indicating that starch amylose content was largely responsible for the changes in CSB quality. Flour blends with 5–10% WWF, of which starch amylose content was 22.4–24.7%, produced CSB with superior crumb structure compared to other blends, but insignificant changes in surface smoothness, stress relaxation and total score compared to the respective control wheat flours. Flour blends with 15% WWF to produce a starch amylose content of 21.4–22.7% exhibited reduced staling of CSB with total scores comparable to the respective control wheat flours. CSB prepared from blends with more than 10% WWF exhibited a higher soluble starch content, indicative of reduced starch retrogradation, than that prepared from wheat flours without WWF during storage for 3 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of wheat bran pre-treatments by autoclaving, roasting, jet cooking, extrusion, puffing and high-temperature-high-pressure (HTHP) cooking on the properties of whole wheat meal (WWM) and the sensory attributes of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) and pancakes prepared from blends of refined flours and brans. All the pre-treatments of bran imparted negative influences on the gluten index of WWMs compared to untreated bran. Pre-hydration of bran and its incorporation into the fully developed dough of refined flour significantly improved the specific volume, surface smoothness and crumb structure of CSB. Autoclaving, roasting, jet cooking and puffing of bran resulted in no apparent positive effects on CSB sensory attributes. HTHP cooking significantly increased CSB specific volume, but negatively affected the flavor by increasing bitterness. Extrusion of bran improved CSB crumb structure, stress relaxation score and springiness. No apparent improvement in the sensory attributes was observed in pancakes with roasted, jet-cooked, extruded and puffed brans. The autoclaved bran produced pancakes of higher crumb moistness than untreated bran. The results suggest that extrusion and autoclaving of bran prior to being blended with refined flour would be effective ways to improve the quality of whole wheat CSB and pancakes, respectively. [Display omitted] • Hydrothermal and pressure treatments of bran affected the gluten index of WWM. • Pre-hydration of bran and incorporation after dough development increased CSB volume. • Extruded bran improved CSB crumb structure, stress relaxation score and springiness. • Autoclaving of bran was an effective way to improve the moistness of pancakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]