Optimizing the quality of bran-fortified stewing noodles using extruded wheat bran and improvers

Aimed to improve the tensile properties, color, and sensory quality of bran-fortified stewing noodles using bran extrusion and improvers. A single-factor experiment and Box–Behnken design response surface experiment were designed, and the multi-index comprehensive weighted scoring method was applied. The single-factor experiment indicated high-quality bran-fortified stewing noodles when wheat gluten, glucose oxidase, and guar gum contents were 10%, 40 mg/kg, and 0.3%, respectively. The response surface experiment showed that the comprehensive weighted score in the response surface optimal group was maximum (86.33 points) when wheat gluten, glucose oxidase, and guar gum contents were 5%, 40 mg/kg, and 0.2%, respectively. The verified model experiment showed that the average comprehensive weighted score was 89.31±0.49 points, indicating that the model was feasible to improve the quality of bran-fortified stewing noodles. The optimal formula involved wheat gluten, glucose oxidase, and guar gum contents of 6.67%, 28 mg/kg, and 0.22%, respectively. Bran extrusion and improvers can improve the quality of bran-fortified stewing noodles. The findings may serve as a reference for the quality improvement and industrial production of fiber-rich stewing noodles.