Effect of fermentation on the textural level of whole wheat flour

  • YU Xiao ,
  • HUANG Junrong ,
  • ZHANG Chong ,
  • PAN Yue ,
  • WANG Xue ,
  • HUO Yifan
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  • (School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China)

Received date: 2025-10-20

  Revised date: 2025-12-20

  Online published: 2026-08-20

Abstract

Diets for individuals with dysphagia must fulfill the dual requirements of safe swallowing and nutritional adequacy.Whole grains are highly valued for their rich nutritional profile.Fermentation is an effective method capable of modifying food texture while preserving nutrient density.However, the impact of fermentation on the texture level of whole wheat flour remains unclear.In this study, whole wheat flour was gelatinized at a 10% concentration, (95 ℃, 20 min), inoculated with sweet koji, and fermented at 30 ℃ for 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours.The texture levels were analyzed using the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework, supplemented by rheometry, texture profile analysis (TPA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The results indicated a progressive increase in the fluidity of the fermented whole wheat gel with extended fermentation time.Specifically, the texture level decreased from level 5 to levels 3, 3, 2, and 1 after 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours of fermentation, respectively.Correspondingly, consistency decreased by 54.2%, 63.6%, 68.1%, and 70.6%, while viscosity was reduced by 61.8%, 76.7%, 85.2%, and 88.1%, respectively.This study provides an innovative processing strategy for developing nutrient-dense, whole grain-based foods suitable for dysphagia diets.

Cite this article

YU Xiao , HUANG Junrong , ZHANG Chong , PAN Yue , WANG Xue , HUO Yifan . Effect of fermentation on the textural level of whole wheat flour[J]. Food and Fermentation Industries, 2026 , 52(15) : 291 -298 . DOI: 10.13995/j.cnki.11-1802/ts.044874

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