In order to improve the quality of the gluten free rice bread (GFRB), pre-gelatinised rice flour (PGRF) was made and used to partially replace natural rice flour in the production of GFRB. The pre-gelatinisation parameters were optimised and the effects of PGRF on the quality of the GFRB and its batter were studied. The results showed that optimal PGRF was obtained when 50% total water was mixed with 1.0% rice flour and the mixture heated at 80 °C for 2 min. Supplementation with PGRF significantly improved the properties of GFRB by affecting its baking properties, textural properties, colour, and crumb grain features. Effects of PGRF on GFRB were mainly caused by the more closely packed gel structure of rice starch in the bread batter, the higher onset temperature during gelatinisation and the complex effect of PGRF on water-binding capacity in bread batter during the baking process. As the pre-gelatinisation parameters of flours and their effect on gluten-free baked products varied with grain variety, processing properties should be studied before using them, and emphasis should be placed on new techniques such as flour pre-gelatinisation to obtain gluten-free foods with improved quality.

To develop teff-based food products with acceptable quality, the composition, structure, and properties of teff protein fractions should be better understood. In this study, teff proteins were extracted, and their protein composition, structure, and properties were calculated, analyzed, and compared with those of wheat gliadin and glutenin. Results showed that teff flour contained 9.07% protein, with prolamin as its main protein fraction. The isoelectric points of albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutelin were at pH 3.6, 3.0, 4.4, and 3.4, respectively. Teff prolamin and glutelin showed a significant difference in amino acids and free energy of hydration compared to wheat gliadins and glutenins. The protein chain length of teff prolamins was smaller than that of wheat gliadins, and teff glutelins lacked high molecular weight glutelin subunits. Teff prolamin had the highest α-helices content (27.08%), whereas no random coils were determined, which is different from wheat gliadin. Teff glutelin had a lower content of β-turn than wheat glutenin, and no α-helices were determined in it. Teff prolamin and glutelin had lower disulfide bond content and surface hydrophobicity. Teff prolamin had significantly higher thermal stability than wheat gliadin, whereas the thermal stability of teff glutelin was significantly lower than that of wheat glutenin.

Highland barley flour-based coating batter has rarely been reported, although highland barley flour is promising due to its high β-glucan and amylose content. In this study, highland barley flour was used to substitute 40% to 80% of wheat flour to form a highland barely-wheat composite flour used in the coating batter. The characteristics of the highland barley-wheat composite flour and its effect on the properties of coating batter and deep-fried meat were analyzed. Results showed that the composite flour significantly improved water holding capacity, oil absorbing capacity, and water solubility index. In contrast, no significant change was observed in the water absorption index or swelling power. The incorporation of highland barley flour significantly changed the pasting properties of the composite flour. Compared with the wheat flour, the viscosity and the pickup of the coating batter made with composite flour increased from 4905 Pa·s and 0.53% to more than 12,252 Pa·s and 0.63%, respectively, and its water mobility decreased. These changes were closely related to the substitution rate of highland barley flour. The composite flour significantly increased the moisture content from 27.73% to more than 33.03% and decreased the oil content of the crust from 19.15% to lower than 16.44%, respectively. It decreased L* and increased a* of the crust and decreased the hardness, adhesiveness, and springiness of the deep-fried meat. A spongy inner structure with a flatter surface was formed in all composite flour-based crusts, and the substitution rate influenced the flatness of the crust. Thus, highland barley flour could be used for batter preparation with partial substitution, enhancing the quality of deep-fried meat and acting as an oil barrier-forming ingredient for fried batter foods.