Orange peels, the major byproduct of orange fruit processing, are a good material for functional food production because of their excellent physiological and health function. The effects of orange peel powder (OPP) on the rheological and reho‐fermentation properties of high‐gluten wheat dough and bread staling were investigated. The results showed that OPP significantly modified wheat dough characteristics and bread quality for its fiber, pectin and polyphenol content. Incorporation of OPP in wheat dough mainly caused competitive water absorption. It improved dough water absorption from 59.70% to 66.82% by increasing the development time (from 1.40 min to 4.51 min) and decreasing the retrogradation degree (from 1.01% to 0.68%) at a low content (no more than 5%) but showed adverse effects at higher content because of stronger gluten‐dilution action than excessive water sequestration of OPP. It strengthened the dough elasticity by increasing the value of storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of dough samples at all contents, G′ and G″ value of dough sample containing 7% OPP was more than twice that of the wheat dough. Alveograph and rheofermentographic parameters confirmed that OPP improved the total volume of CO₂ production from 1774.11 ml (wheat dough) to 2,458.30 ml (dough sample containing 7% OPP) but reduced the gas retention coefficient from 71.86% to 66.52% during fermentation accordingly. Additionally, no remarkable deterioration of the bread staling was observed. These results contributed to the interpretation of the action mechanism of OPP modification on the wheat dough structure and further guided the application of OPP on cereal product development.

• Ultrasound pretreatment (UPT) affected the morphology and structure of pea starch. • The ultrasonic temperature altered the chain disruption points of pea starch. • UPT at higher temperatures increased the number of linear chains and amylose content. • UPT enhanced the complexation ability of pea starch with lauric acid.