Journal of Bioprocessing & Biotechniques

The Kinetics of Fermentations in Sourdough Bread Stored at Different Temperature and Influence on Bread Quality

Abstract

Venturi F, Andrich G, Sanmartin C, Zinnai A

The fermentations induced by the utilization of sourdough in bread-making, are able to enhance the qualitative properties of the final dough, improving its volume, texture and flavor, so to obtain a bread characterized by high qualitative properties and able to retard its staling process. In particular the working conditions adopted can deeply affect the ratio occurring between the populations of lactic acid bacteria and alcoholic yeasts of the sourdough and then also the productions of the related metabolites, which deeply affect the organoleptic characteristics and then also the quality of the final bread. The effect induced on the microbial and chemical composition of the sourdough by different values of the storage temperature utilized (13, 19 and 27°C) between two successive refreshes (~ 24 hours), was evaluated to put in evidence the different sensory characteristics assumed by the corresponding breads. The sensory profiles of the obtained breads evaluated by the descriptive analyses, were carried on by a panel of trained assessors using a sensorial sheet specifically developed for this purpose and characterized by unstructured graphical intensity scales; the reliability of judgments obtained was evaluated by statistical analysis. So it was possible to put in evidence the high degree of correlation occurring among microbiological and chemical data of the sourdoughs and the sensorial characteristics of the corresponding bread. Among the three storage temperatures of the sourdough, 19°C appears to be able to ensure the best organoleptic characteristics to this particular bread.