D. Every et M. Ross, THE ROLE OF DEXTRINS IN THE STICKINESS OF BREAD CRUMB MADE FROM PREHARVEST SPROUTED WHEAT OR FLOUR CONTAINING EXOGENOUS ALPHA-AMYLASE, Journal of cereal science, 23(3), 1996, pp. 247-256
Dextrins were extracted in water from bread made from pre-harvest spro
uted wheat or standard flour supplemented with exogenous alpha-amylase
s. The dextrins were separated by gel permeation chromatography and th
e dextrin content (% of crumb weight) determined for different degree
of polymerisation (DP) size classes; DP 1-2, DP 3-10, DP 11-50, DP 51-
200 and DP > 200. There were significant correlations between the dext
rin content in each size class and crumb stickiness (r = 0.84-0.91, 22
df). The most significant correlation (r = 0.96) was between total de
xtrin content and crumb stickiness. Addition of dextrins of various DP
ranges from various sources to standard flour produced bread with sti
cky crumb. Again, the degree of stickiness was generally related to th
e amount of total dextrin in the crumb and not to size distribution of
dextrins. In this instance, extensive enzymic hydrolysis of starch wa
s not necessary to produce sticky crumb; the dextrins caused crumb sti
ckiness directly. Addition of dextrins to reconstituted gluten-starch
flour produced bread with unexpectedly low dextrin levels and correspo
ndingly low stickiness scores. It is concluded that, to produce sticky
crumb, high levels of dextrin of any size are necessary in the crumb;
a sticky mass is produced when dextrins dissolve in the excess 'free'
water that is normally 'bound' to starch, gluten and other insoluble
components of bread crumb. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited