The impact of dough hydration level on gluten-free bread quality: A case study with chickpea flour

The effects of dough hydration level on the physical properties and acceptability of gluten-free bread (GFB) made with chickpea flour were studied. Nine GFB samples were prepared with water levels ranging from 100 to 180% on a flour weight basis. Chickpea GFB required higher hydration levels than rice flour and starchy based products, and improvement on bread quality was observed at 150% water content level, which contributed to the increase in loaf-specific volume, crumb softness and porosity, as well as improving texture, flavor, and overall acceptability (>= 8 on 10-cm hybrid hedonic scale), resulting in a promising alternative for meeting consumer demands for tasty and healthy innovative gluten-free products.

Automated summary

The study found that chickpea flour requires higher hydration levels for making gluten-free bread, and the quality of bread is improved at 150% water content level, leading to better texture, flavor, and overall acceptability.