Studies on suitability of wheat flour blends with sweet potato, colocasia and water chestnut flours for noodle making

Blends of refined wheat flour (RWF) with colocasia (CF), sweet potato (SPF) and water chestnut (WCF) flours respectively at replacement level of 25 g/100 g were assessed for their suitability for noodles making. All the native flours as well as their blends with RWF exhibited restricted swelling behavior. Incorporation of SPF or CF into RWF decreased the peak viscosity of flour blends. Noodles prepared from respective flour blends of SPF and CF with RWF showed lower cooking time, higher cooked weight, higher water uptake and higher gruel solid loss in comparison to control sample (RWF noodles). Among blend flours noodles, RWF and SPF blend noodles were rated superior for their organoleptic/eating characteristics of slipperiness, firmness, appearance but undesirable high value of tooth packing. Noodle with acceptable quality characteristics and decreased level of gluten, which may prove beneficial for celiac persons, can be developed using RWF blends with non-conventional flours like colocasia, sweet potato and water chestnut.