INHIBITION OF STALING IN CHAPATI (INDIAN UNLEAVENED FLAT BREAD)

• Published in: Journal of food processing and preservation 2008-06, Vol.32 (3), p.378-403
• Main Authors: SHAIKH, IRSHAD M, GHODKE, SHALINI K, ANANTHANARAYAN, LAXMI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cereal and baking product industries; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
• ISSN: 0145-8892; 1745-4549
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-4549.2008.00185.x

Chapati is an unleavened Indian flat bread made from whole wheat flour usually consumed immediately after preparation as it becomes hard on keeping because of staling. Large-scale mechanized preparation of ready-to-eat chapatis will have to address this problem. Investigations were made to study the effect of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL), glycerol monostearate, propylene glycol, sorbitol, α-amylase, xylanase, maltodextrin and guar gum when added to chapati dough, on the inhibition of staling in chapatis stored at 29 ± 1C and 4 ± 1C. Chapatis were prepared from whole wheat flour dough containing (salt, 5% oil, appropriate preservatives and the aforementioned additives. Chapatis were packed in self-sealing low-density polyethylene bags and were stored for 10 days at 29 ± 1C and 4 ± 1C. Stored chapatis were analyzed for various staling parameters such as moisture content, texture, water-soluble starch, in vitro enzyme digestibility, enthalpy change (ΔH) and sensory quality. Staling of chapatis at 29 ± 1C and at 4 ± 1C of storage was inhibited by all additives to different extents; the extent of staling was less at 4 ± 1C. Maltodextrin at 0.3% (w/w) was found to be the most effective. Several combinations of additives were also studied, and the best combination was (100 ppm) + SSL (0.375%) levels. Chapati, a traditional staple food of Indians, is unleavened flat bread made from whole wheat flour. With rapidly changing lifestyles, changing socio-economic trends and increasing urbanization and consumerism there is a rising demand for convenience foods which require minimum or no preparation time particularly the ready-to-eat (RTE) type of foods. Chapatis are generally baked fresh twice a day for lunch and dinner, and unless eaten immediately after baking, these stale rapidly and become difficult to chew. The most important parameter of chapati quality is its texture. The texture is generally evaluated in terms of tenderness, flexibility and its suitability to be folded into a spoon shape for eating with curried preparation. RTE chapatis are the latest addition to the species of "convenience foods." Keeping this in mind the research was undertaken to improve quality of chapati with the addition of various additives and improvements for the inhibition of staling in chapati.