Effects of particle size distributions of rice flour on the quality of gluten-free rice cupcakes

•Particle size distributions of rice flours affect the type of gluten-free bakery products.•Rice flour passed through 120-160 mesh sieves (<125 μm) is appropriate for making rice cakes.•High swelling power, peak and setback viscosities of rice flour are important factors.

The particle size distributions (PSD) of rice flour and milling processes are important in making gluten-free products. The dry rice flour was prepared by grinding dried rice grains after soaking. Effects of PSD on the quality of rice cupcakes were investigated using the newly-developed rice flour. The flour properties passed through 80, 120, 160, and 200 (<180, <125, <95, and <75 μm) meshsieves, and batters and cupcakes prepared from their flours were analyzed. The PSD patterns showed two peaks containing cells and free starch fractions, in which the starch fraction peak intensity increased as a particle size decreased. While damaged starch, water binding capacity, solubility and lightness increased, crude protein and yellowness decreased as a particle size decreased. The final and setback viscosities increased as a particle size decreased. The specific volume of cupcakes was the highest in the cupcakes made with rice flour passed through under 95 μm. Hardness and springiness decreased as a particle size decreased. The air cell sizes decreased as a particle size decreased with homogeneity. Air cell homogeneity, volume, hardness, and softness of cakes determined by the different test, and appearance, texture, and overall quality determined by the preference test were all significantly different (p < 0.05).