Staling refers to the undesirable changes (other than microbial spoilage) that take place between the time bread is baked and consumed. Understanding the different aspects of staling and the factors that affect them can help bakers make better decisions about their formulas, ingredients, processes, and packaging. Aspects of Staling Crumb firming is caused by [...]
Someday, your products will go stale. Recrystallization of the starch molecules, gluten cross-links and moisture re-distribution are the main causes. Thankfully, there are ways to at least keep this process at bay! How to slow staling with ingredients Enzymes: alpha amylase, pullulanase, lipase, lipoxygenase, protease and other non-starch polysaccharide-modifying enzymes help decrease staling. Surface Active Lipids: DATEM, SSL, [...]
Starch Gelatinization What is Starch Gelatinization? Starch gelatinization is the irreversible loss of the molecular order of starch granules (crystallinity). It is considered a glass transition from an ordered initial state to a disordered final state, usually resembling a “melting” process, that requires water and heat.1,2 In the cooking or baking process, [...]
Staling Also known as bread aging or product firming What is Staling? Staling or firming causes baked goods to lose their freshness and initial eating qualities.1 Depending on the product, staling involve both crumb and crust: Harsh, dry and crumbly Increased hardness and firmness Deterioration of taste and aroma Loss of moisture [...]
Shortening is used in baking to create flaky pie crust. Shortening Also known as Crisco® or Fat What is Shortening? Shortening is an edible fat that is solid at room temperature. It shortens the gluten strands in wheat, which provides three textural attributes in baked goods: A short bite A lubricative moist texture [...]
