Barley flour exploitation in sourdough bread-making: A technological, nutritional and sensory evaluation

- Barley flour exploitation in sourdough bread-making was investigated.
- Wheat and barley sourdoughs and doughs were technologically evaluated.
- Flours, sourdoughs, doughs, breads were analyzed for phytate and β-glucans content.
- Physico-chemical properties and overall acceptability of the breads were assayed.
- No significant differences were seen in the degree of liking among the breads.

Consumption of whole grain barley foods reduces blood cholesterol and glycemic index, and promotes weight loss by increasing satiety. However, barley has only been marginally exploited by the baking industry, due to its deteriorating effect on bread quality. The use of sourdough can be a strategy to improve the quality of barley bread. In this study, two sourdoughs, made with sole hull-less barley flour or with a mixture of 50 g/100 g barley and 50 g/100 g wheat flours, were characterized from a microbiological and technological point of view, in comparison with a sole wheat flour sourdough. Chemical-physical and sensory analyses of the resulting breads were carried out during 6 days storage. The total titratable acidity, phytate and β-glucan content of the different types of flour, sourdough, dough and bread were also evaluated. Overall, the results showed that the barley sourdoughs investigated could be used to obtain barley bread with enhanced nutritional value. Furthermore, despite the lower specific volume and denser crumb of barley breads with respect to wheat bread, no significant differences were seen in the degree of liking among the three breads after baking and during shelf-life, thus confirming the possibility for successful exploitation of barley flour in the baking industry.