Influence of the chestnuts drying temperature on the rheological properties of their doughs

Chestnut flour doughs were prepared using chestnut air-dried at 45, 65, and 85 °C with constant load density (8.0 ± 0.6 kg/m2). Mixing curves of doughs using Mixolab® device showed that chestnut flour doughs dried at 85 °C needed more water absorption to reach the target consistency, (1.1 ± 0.07 Nm). Thermorheological properties were evaluated by means of a controlled stress rheometer. All tested doughs showed shear-thinning behaviour in the steady-shear tests (0.001–1 s−1). Oscillatory (1–100 rad s−1 at 0.1% strain), temperature sweep (30–90 °C) and creep-recovery (loading 50 Pa for 60 s) tests showed that flour doughs from chestnuts dried at 85 °C provide interesting properties, particularly remarkable elasticity that is associated with starch gelatinisation. Experimental data were described using various rheological models.

► Gluten-free chestnut doughs characteristics depend on flour drying temperature (TFD).
► Water absorption of chestnut flour increases with TFD.
► Dough elasticity was improved with TFD above starch gelatinisation temperature (Tg).
► Rheological properties of doughs dried below Tg do not show significant differences.