Changes in physicochemical characteristics of wheat flour and quality of fresh wet noodles induced by microwave treatment

Fresh wet noodles (FWN) are popular staple foods due to its unique chewy texture and favorable taste. However, the development of FWN is limited by its short shelf life and high browning rate. It has been found that the quantity of original microorganisms in wheat flour produced by traditional method is relatively high, which is detrimental to the processing quality and storage stability of FWN. Consequently, it becomes imperative to decrease microorganisms in wheat flour. Microwave treatment has been regarded as a promising method in the food industry due to its potential in inhibiting microbial growth and inactivating enzymes without causing adverse effect on the food quality. This study aims to investigate the effects of microwave treatment of wheat kernels under different powers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 kW) on the physicochemical properties of wheat flour and the quality of FWN. The results revealed that microwave treatment had a significant effect on microbial inhibition and enzyme inactivation, wherein the total plate count (TPC) and yeast and mold counts (YMC) decreased by 0.87 lg(CFU/g) and 1.13 lg(CFU/g) respectively, and PPO activity decreased from 11.40 U to 6.31 U. The dough quality properties, such as stability, extensibility, and starch viscosity, improved significantly under different microwave conditions. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images indicated that starch and proteins aggregated gradually in treated flour, altering rheological properties of dough. From the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microwave treatment led to the appearance of disrupted structure in the gluten proteins, but the secondary structure of proteins altered slightly. Rheological properties of dough confirmed that the microwave treatment greatly affected processing characteristics of wheat flour products, with significant advantageous consequences on product quality, especially for textural properties of FWN. Furthermore, FWN darkening could be inhibited noticeably after microwave treatment, thereby prolonging its shelf life. Therefore, microwave treatment could thus be an effective, practical technology to produce low-bacterial flour and thereby enhance its product quality.