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Assessing Degree of Cook During Corn Nixtamalization: Impact of Processing Variables
Author(s) -
Sahai D.,
Mua J. P.,
Surjewan I.,
Buendia M. O.,
Rowe M.,
Jackson D. S.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
cereal chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.558
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1943-3638
pISSN - 0009-0352
DOI - 10.1094/cchem.1999.76.6.850
Subject(s) - steeping , differential scanning calorimetry , chemistry , starch , food science , degree (music) , response surface methodology , viscosity , enthalpy , starch gelatinization , corn starch , thermodynamics , chromatography , materials science , composite material , physics , acoustics
Nixtamalization involves cooking and steeping corn in a lime solution, washing the corn (nixtamal), and stone grinding nixtamal to form a corn dough or masa. Masa is used to produce nixtamalized products (corn tortillas, tortilla chips, corn chips, taco shells, etc.) by forming and baking or deepfat frying. The degree of corn kernel cook determines the quality and texture of masa. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used as an experimental design to study the impact of process variables (cook temperature, cook time, initial steep temperature, and steep time) on the degree of cook measured using a Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). RSM data exhibited significant ( P < 0.005), although not predictive, linear models for RVA peak viscosity ( r 2 = 0.63), setback ( r 2 = 0.61), final viscosity ( r 2 = 0.61), and peak time ( r 2 = 0.57), indicating a dependence of these parameters on nixtamalization conditions. Peak viscosity, setback, and final viscosity increased linearly with steep time. DSC enthalpy ( r 2 = 0.83) and peak temperature ( r 2 = 0.89) of freezedried masa also exhibited significant ( P < 0.0001) linear regression models with processing variables. DSC enthalpy increased with an increase in steep time, suggesting that starch is annealed during steeping. This study demonstrated that fundamental starch properties were altered on extended steeping during nixtamalization.