Study on processing and quality improvement of frozen noodles

The processing method and quality improvement of frozen noodles were studied. To obtain the best mouthfeel and control the breakage during processing and cooking, noodles with a thickness of 1.1 mm and width of 3.4 mm were produced. The precooking method for raw noodles was steaming for 10 min and then boiling for 4 min before freezing to obtain the optimal characteristics for frozen noodles. Five frequently used food additives (guar gum, sodium stearyl lactate (SSL), cassava starch, glucose oxidase (GOD), and α-amylase) were used to improve the quality of frozen noodles. Cooking losses and sensory evaluation scores were adopted to optimize the formulation of frozen dough by a response surface methodology (RSM): guar gum 0.28%, SSL 0.44%, cassava starch 4.82%, GOD 0.003%, and α-amylase 0.04%. Frozen noodles had a more continuous microstructure and their storage quality was improved notably by this method.