Effect of extruded wheat bran on dough rheology and bread quality

Bran extrusion is mainly under study and works should be performed to know the effect on dough and bread. This study was designed to investigate the effect of bran extrusion (addition of 2.5 g/100 g to 20 g/100g bran) on the rheological characteristics of bread dough, behaviour during fermentation, and bread quality. Extruded bran increased dough development time and tenacity to a greater extent than non-extruded bran, and minimized the loss of stability if over-mixing occurred. Extruded bran, due to its greater gas production, also reduced loss of dough height during fermentation to a greater extent than untreated bran. However, breads with extruded bran showed a higher volume and lower initial firmness than breads with normal bran if improver was added. However, no differences were found in the organoleptic evaluation. Bran extrusion therefore modified dough rheology but did not negatively affect bread quality. It could even improve the quality of breads with bran when improvers are added.

► This work studies the effect of bran extrusion on bread quality. ► Extrusion of bran increased dough development time and tenacity. ► Extrusion also reduced loss of dough height during fermentation. ► Extruded bran breads with improver showed higher volume than breads with normal bran.