Minimizing molecular weight reduction of β-glucan during barley bread making

During the production of composite wheat/barley breads beta-glucans are rapidly degraded by endogenous wheat and barley flour beta-glucanases. Since the physiological effect of beta-glucans is related to their molecular weight a protection from degradation is essential in order to retain their full effect on the mitigation of serum cholesterol and blood glucose levels. In this study we have shortened the contact time between barley flour and water while focusing on the production of good quality barley breads. Incorporation of barley flour into already fermented wheat dough or omitting fermentation and shortening proofing times by more yeast and sucrose addition enabled the production of barley bread with increased beta-glucan calcofluor weight average molecular weight (M-wcalc) and good bread quality (crumb fineness, bread slice area). The use of barley components with bigger particle size like coarse barley flour or intact barley flakes further increased beta-glucan molecular weight in bread. Inactivation (with scalding) or reduction (dry heat treatment) of beta-glucanase activity in barley flour prior to use, on the other hand, had little effect on beta-glucan molecular weight reduction during one of the optimized short bread making processes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.