Steamed bread—A review of manufacturing, flour quality requirements, and quality evaluation

Background and objectives Steamed bread is a staple food in northern China and is also popular in the south of China and many Asian countries. It is a fermented food made from wheat flour, and the steaming process gives a product with a thin, white skin, an upright profile, and internal crumb ranging from dense and firm to open and soft, depending on the style and region. Findings This review presents an overview of the major manufacturing methods in commercial production and the factors influencing product quality, including processing and flour quality. Forty years of research has helped refine wheat quality requirements for the different styles of steamed bread, but there are still conflicting reports on basic wheat quality requirements and ingredient effects which hinder progress in the field. Conclusions In order for manufacturers to obtain the flour quality they require, all sectors of the chain must work to understand the interaction of production method and flour quality for each style of steamed bread and each region. This includes development and implementation of objective methods of steamed bread quality assessment. Significance and novelty By considering both the style of steamed bread and method of manufacture as described in this review, it is possible to select the most appropriate methods and quality evaluation parameters. This should enable future researchers to present conclusions which may be useful to later workers.