Pasting, rheological, and dough mixing behavior of rice flour as affected by the addition of native and partially hydrolyzed β-glucan concentrate.

This study was aimed at evaluating the potential of barley β-glucan concentrates (native and partially hydrolyzed) in modifying the techno-functionality of rice flour dough. β-Glucan concentrate was partially hydrolyzed to obtain a low molecular weight polymer and their influence on the pasting, rheological, and thermal properties of rice dough were assessed. Hydration, thermal, and pasting properties were significantly modified with the added β-glucans. The rice dough supplemented with β-glucan concentrates showed improved viscoelastic and creep behavior and the effectiveness of β-glucans in imparting strength to rice dough depended on its molecular weight. Hydrolyzed β-glucan concentrates having low molecular weight increased dough elasticity to the greater extent in comparison to native β-glucan concentrates. The micrographs of supplemented dough showed a strong and dense network indicating improved structure and strength.