Abstract:
A study was conducted to evaluate the quality changes that could be occurred in
the whole grain wheat flour during the storage and also to study the effect of
microwave heating in the quality of the wheat flour. Whole grain wheat flour was
packed in low density polyethylene bags separately as microwaved and nonmicrowaved and the quality changes were assessed for 12 weeks under airconditioned storage temperature of 27°C. The quality characteristics such as
smell, sieve test, long moisture, moisture NIR, protein NIR, ash NIR, wet-gluten,
fat acidity, colour and weevil count were evaluated in 2 weeks interval. Fat and
fiber content were evaluated in 4 weeks interval. Healthy cake was prepared from
microwaved and non-microwaved flour and the sensory characteristics were
evaluated using seven point hedonic scale method at the end of 4 weeks. The
results of the study revealed that there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in
the quality parameters of whole grain wheat flour in protein, ash, smell, fat and
fiber whereas moisture, wet gluten, colour and the fat acidity changed
significantly during the 12 weeks of storage. There was no any weevil infestation
found in both flours. Sensory characteristics of the healthy cake were not affected
by storage in both microwaved and non-microwaved flours. It was found from this
study that, whole grain wheat flour can be stored under air-conditioned
temperature of 27°C for 12 weeks from the date of manufacture.
