Predicting wheat flour quality for making Japanese sponge cake using flour pasting properties as measured by the Rapid Visco Analyzer

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate a series of Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) methods for their ability to produce results that were predictive of Japanese sponge cake (JSC) quality. Two solvents (water and 50% [w/w] sucrose in water) and two temperature profiles [Standard 1 (STD 1) and an internal cake temperature profile] were selected to run across a diverse set of flour samples from two crop years that possessed variable bake performance. The results were analyzed for predictive outcomes for JSC prepared using a mechanical fold method.FindingsThe solvent retention capacity (SRC) results did not show any significant trends with JSC quality. The RVA results from both profiles using water as the solvent did not show a significant correlation with JSC quality while the 50% (w/w) sucrose solvent was significantly correlated (p ≤ .01). The STD 1 and internal cake temperature profile batter pasting viscosity (BPV) using the sucrose solvent showed significant (p ≤ .01) correlations with mechanical folded JSC volume (r = .97), firmness (r = −.88), and overall score (r = .85).ConclusionsThe RVA BPV results showed that a 50% sucrose solvent could more accurately be used to predict and screen for JSC quality outcomes. Both RVA profiles could be used with a sucrose solvent to predict JSC quality. JSC volume and overall score showed significant positive correlations with BPV while firmness had a significant negative correlation.Significance and NoveltyThis research identified two RVA profiles that when paired with a 50% (w/w) sucrose solvent could be used to screen for JSC quality using less flour and taking less time than a bake test. This test could potentially assist breeders and millers in quicky screening flours for efficient decision making. This is the first time an RVA temperature profile that mimics the internal rise in temperature for a JSC during baking has been used to predict JSC quality. In addition, the STD 1 profile using the 50% (w/w) sucrose solvent has not been previously used to predict JSC quality.