Impact of ingredients on quality and sensory characteristics of gluten-free baked goods

Abstract

The rising awareness of celiac disease, an intestinal intolerance to gluten, has increased the demand for gluten-free products. Gluten is a protein that provides structure to breads, cakes, cookies, and other wheat-flour based baked goods. When flour and water are combined and mixed, the proteins glutenin and gliaden present in wheat combine and a network of gluten is formed. In addition to providing structure and elasticity to dough, it also traps air within the matrix and allows baked goods to rise and maintain desirable characteristics such as an open and airy crumb structure and chewiness of bread products. Removing gluten from a baked good formulation affects the finished product in many ways. This review examines research conducted on the effects of many various ingredients on finished product quality of gluten-free baked goods. Quality parameters that are most greatly affected by the exclusion of gluten in baked goods include specific volume (a measure of the amount of air incorporated into the finished product), height, spread ratio (the ratio of diameter to thickness in cookies and like products), color, and hardness. Gluten-free baked goods are recognized to be denser, shorter in height, have a larger spread, have a different color, and be harder in texture than traditional wheat-based baked goods. Various gluten-free ingredients have been studied for their use in producing a finished product that exhibits quality parameters similar to wheat-based baked goods. These include rice, potato, tapioca, corn, and sorghum; pseudocereals such as buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa; legumes; nuts; and waste from fruit and vegetable processing. The inclusion of additives such as hydrocolloids, protein concentrates, emulsifiers, and acidic ingredients are extensively utilized and studied in gluten-free baked good applications. Gluten-free baked goods commonly have a reduced shelf life as compared to wheat-based products. The weak association of water with the starches present in gluten-free baked goods allows moisture to migrate to the outside of the product and rapidly escape. Shelf life studies are also included in much of the research and are summarized in this review. Because consumers desire gluten-free products that taste like the gluten-containing products they replace, many studies pertaining to gluten-free ingredient research include sensory analysis. Some studies include a wheat-based product as a control, while others use only gluten-free formulations in the research. Future research using better sensory methods are needed in this product category. Food manufacturers who wish to compete in the still growing gluten-free market have many ingredient resources available to them to produce high quality gluten-free baked goods. Through research conducted on alternative flours, starches, hydrocolloids, emulsifiers, and other ingredients, gluten-free consumers can enjoy baked goods that exhibit the same desirable qualities as traditional wheat-flour based products.