Technological, sensory and chemical characteristics of gluten-free pasta made from sorghum and corn flours

Abstract

The only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten free diet for the whole life of the person and hence new products must be offered to this public. Sorghum and corn are cereals that, besides having functional properties, do not contain gluten-forming proteins in their composition and can therefore be inserted as ingredients into gluten-free diets. The objectives of this study were to prepare dry pasta using maize and sorghum flours and to evaluate some of the chemical and cooking characteristics, as well as the sensory acceptability of the formulated products according to a panel of celiac and non-celiac individuals. The samples included one made with only sorghum flour, another with 50% sorghum flour and 50% corn flour, and a third made with only corn flour. The product elaborated with 100% of sorghum flour had significantly higher total protein, lipid, ash, fibre and total phenolic compound contents then the others. The loss of solids of the products ranged from 5.04% to 10.54%, a quality parameter considered adequate for pasta. After cooking, the three pastas absorbed more than twice their weights in water (108.1 to 143.1%). Although the public made up of non-celiac individuals preferred the pasta made with only corn flour, the pasta made with only sorghum flour showed satisfactory acceptability amongst testers with celiac disease, which demonstrates the potential of this ingredient in pasta intended for this public.