Assessing and improving wheat gluten quality with rheometric analysis

1. A method of producing flour with improved vital wheat gluten (VWG) quality, the method comprising:

subjecting a standard VWG mixture containing a predetermined ratio of VWG to starch (VWG:starch) to rheometric analysis;

determining, from the rheometric analysis of the standard VWG mixture, a standard viscosity plateau, a standard starch gelatinization portion, and a standard glutenin viscosity peak that is between the standard viscosity plateau and the standard starch gelatinization portion of the standard VWG mixture, wherein a standard rheometric profile comprises the standard viscosity plateau, the standard starch gelatinization portion, and the standard glutenin viscosity peak;

extracting, using one or more processing conditions, a sample of VWG from a production supply of flour to obtain a sample VWG mixture;

adding to the sample of VWG an amount of starch so that the sample VWG:starch ratio is the same as the predetermined ratio of VWG:starch ratio;

subjecting the sample VWG mixture to rheometric analysis;

determining, from the rheometric analysis of the sample VWG mixture, a sample viscosity plateau, a sample starch gelatinization portion, and a sample glutenin viscosity peak that is between the sample viscosity plateau and the sample starch gelatinization portion, wherein a sample rheometric profile comprises the sample viscosity plateau, the sample starch gelatinization portion, and the glutenin viscosity peak;

comparing at least one of: (i) the standard viscosity plateau to the sample viscosity plateau and (ii) the standard glutenin viscosity peak to the sample glutenin viscosity peak; and

adjusting the one or more processing conditions until the difference between at least one of: (i) the standard viscosity plateau and the sample viscosity plateau and (ii) the standard glutenin viscosity peak and the sample glutenin viscosity peak is less than or equal to 0.2 newton meters (Nm).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the predetermined ratio of VWG:starch in the standard VWG mixture to be from about 10:90 to about 80:20 by weight.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the predetermined ratio of VWG:starch in the standard VWG mixture to be about 10:90 by weight.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the predetermined ratio of VWG:starch in the standard VWG mixture to be about 40:60 by weight.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the standard glutenin viscosity peak and the sample glutenin viscosity peak indicates a pH less than 5.0 of wash water used during extraction of the sample VWG from the production supply of flour.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the standard glutenin viscosity peak and the sample glutenin viscosity peak is an earlier glutenin viscosity peak in the sample rheometric profile.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the standard glutenin viscosity peak and the sample glutenin viscosity peak indicates heat damage to the sample VWG mixture.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising adding to the sample of VWG an amount of starch so the sample VWG to starch ratio is approximately the same as the standard VWG to starch ratio.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the standard glutenin viscosity peak and the sample glutenin viscosity peak is a later glutenin viscosity peak in the sample rheometric profile.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the standard starch gelatinization portion and the sample starch gelatinization portion indicates a different concentration of amylase in the standard VWG mixture as compared to the sample VWG mixture.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the standard starch gelatinization portion and the sample starch gelatinization is a decrease in the starch gelatinization portion of the sample rheometric profile.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the standard VWG mixture based on baking performance of the standard VWG mixture.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing conditions comprise washing the production supply of flour with acidic wash water and drying the sample VWG mixture extracted from the production supply of water at a drying temperature for a duration of time.

14. A method of producing flour with improved vital wheat gluten (VWG) quality, the method comprising:

subjecting a standard VWG mixture to rheometric analysis, the standard VWG mixture comprising a standard VWG to starch ratio;

determining, from the rheometric analysis of the standard VWG mixture, a standard viscosity plateau and a standard glutenin viscosity peak of the standard VWG mixture;

extracting, using one or more processing conditions, a sample of VWG from a production supply of flour to obtain a sample VWG mixture, the sample of VWG comprising a sample VWG to starch ratio and the one or more processing conditions comprising washing the production supply of flour with wash water and drying the sample VWG mixture extracted from the production supply of water at a drying temperature for a duration of time;

subjecting the sample VWG mixture to rheometric analysis;

determining, from the rheometric analysis of the sample VWG mixture, a sample viscosity plateau and a sample glutenin viscosity peak of the standard VWG mixture; and

adjusting the one or more processing conditions until the difference between at least one of: (i) the standard viscosity plateau and the sample viscosity plateau and (ii) the standard glutenin viscosity peak and the sample glutenin viscosity peak is less than or equal to 0.2 newton meters (Nm), wherein adjusting the one or more processing conditions comprises at least one of: increasing a pH of the wash water and reducing the drying temperature.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting the standard VWG to starch ratio to be between 10:90 and 80:20 by weight.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting the standard VWG to starch ratio to be about 40:60 by weight.