The Effect of Hybrid Carrageenan on the Thermo-rheological Properties of Gluten-Free Flour Doughs Using a Modified Kneading Protocol

Thermo-rheological behaviour of chestnut flour doughs supplemented with kappa/iota-hybrid carrageenan (HC) (up to 2.0%, flour basis (f.b.)) and sodium chloride (1.8%, f.b.) was determined at both target (C1) and final (C5) mixing peaks. For this purpose, small amplitude oscillatory shear (0.01 to 100 Hz), creep–recovery (loading of 50 Pa for 60 s, 30 °C), temperature sweeps (from 30 up to 180 °C) and heating/cooling cycles (between 30 and 60 °C) were conducted on a controlled stress rheometer. Previously, the thermal-mixing behaviour at proposed mixing temperature (50 °C) was conducted on Mixolab® apparatus. Results showed that the dough stability (from 2.2 to 5.8 min) in mixing stage and starch heat resistance to dough processing were significantly improved at proposed mixing temperature, even in the absence of HC. No statistical differences in rheological properties were observed for doughs evaluated in C1; however, those analysed in C5 were significantly modified in the presence of HC, mainly in terms of viscous behaviour (from 52.1 × 10 6 to 39.1 × 10 6 Pa s). Creep–recovery data sets, successfully fitted using Burgers model, revealed that the elasticity ( J r / J max from 73.3 to 87.6%) of doughs analysed in C5 improved with HC addition. Thermal tests showed that the starch transitions were significantly promoted and stabilized with HC addition.