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Influence of Alkaline Formulation on Oriental Noodle Color and Texture¹

Patent (60% yield) and straight-grade flours of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring White (CPSW) wheat were used to determine the influence of different ratios of alkaline salts, their concentration, and NaCl on the texture and color characteristics of the yellow alkaline noodles. Addition of 3% (w/w) salt to any formulation resulted in a significant increase in the amount of work required to process the raw noodles, while significantly lower work input was observed for noodles prepared using a 5% (w/w) 9:1 Na-to-K carbonate ratio without salt formula. Wheat class, extraction rate, and alkali formulation had a significant effect on raw noodle brightness with noodles prepared using 5% carbonate being brighter than the 1% carbonate noodles. Maximum cooked noodle thickness was achieved from all flours using a 1% 9:1 Na-to-K carbonate ratio, 3% salt formulation. The inclusion of 3% NaCl into the formula resulted in noodles significantly thicker than the corresponding salt-free formula for all flours. Cooked noodle texture parameters evaluated were maximum cutting stress (MCS), resistance to compression (RTC), recovery (REC), and stress relaxation time. In all cases, the presence of 3% salt in the various formulations resulted in a decrease in each parameter relative to the corresponding salt-free formulation. Desirable bite (MCS), chewiness (RTC, REC), and relaxation times were achieved with a 1% concentration of alkali salts, without NaCl, regardless of the Na-to-K carbonate ratio. Use of a 5% concentration of alkali salts resulted in a significant reduction in texture that was most pronounced for the 1:9 Na-to-K carbonate formulation.