Samples of wheat, spelt, rye, and triticale flours produced by different Polish mills were studied by both classic chemical methods and FT-IR MIR spectroscopy. An attempt was made to statistically correlate FT-IR spectral data with reference data with regard to content of various components, for example, proteins, fats, ash, and fatty acids as well as properties such as moisture, falling number, and energetic value. This correlation resulted in calibrated and validated statistical models for versatile evaluation of unknown flour samples. The calibration data set was used to construct calibration models with use of the CSR and the PLS with the leave one-out, cross-validation techniques. The calibrated models were validated with a validation data set. The results obtained confirmed that application of statistical models based on MIR spectral data is a robust, accurate, precise, rapid, inexpensive, and convenient methodology for determination of flour characteristics, as well as for detection of content of selected flour ingredients. The obtained models' characteristics were as follows: R2 = 0.97, PRESS = 2.14; R2 = 0.96, PRESS = 0.69; R2 = 0.95, PRESS = 1.27; R2 = 0.94, PRESS = 0.76, for content of proteins, lipids, ash, and moisture level, respectively. Best results of CSR models were obtained for protein, ash, and crude fat (R2 = 0.86; 0.82; and 0.78, resp.).

The effect of the roasting process on the quality of hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.) lipidic fraction was investigated by pressure differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) and middle Fourier transform infrared (MID-FT-IR) spectroscopy. The data obtained were referred to and related with fatty acid composition, free fatty acids content, peroxide value, anisidine value and tocopherols concentration measured by standard techniques. These methods were used to decipher between the roasted hazelnuts (shelled and in-shell) treated in different thermal conditions (100°C, 130°C and 160°C) and time (10, 30 and 60 min). The results of free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV) and anisidine value remained low for all roasting conditions applied and were within quality requirement ranges. The shell left on hazelnuts during the roasting process limited hazelnuts oxidative deterioration, hence it showed protective function. Minor changes occurred in the fatty acid and tocopherol contents and compositions. PDSC, as an appropriate unbiased method for assessing the oxidative stability, revealed a slight elevation of oxidative stability as the temperature and time of the roasting process increased (p<0.05). Discriminant models constructed with the use of principal components (PC) procedure confirmed the ability of MID-FT-IR to monitor the roasting process within a certain range of temperature and time applied.

The rapid, simple, and non-destructive analytical procedure for discrimination and authentication of whiskies originating from Scotland, Ireland and USA due to their origin as well as time of maturation (two, three, six and twelve years) is presented. Combination of data from infrared spectroscopy with statistical analysis was used to construct eight discriminant models. Models obtained allowed to distinguish Scottish, Irish, and American whiskies and 2 and 3 years old beverages from 6 and 12 years old whiskies. Results show that 100% of samples were correctly classified in models discriminating American and Scottish whiskies or 2-year-old and 6-year-old American whiskies. American whiskies were classified correctly in all models which may suggest its considerable chemical difference compared to whisky produced in Scotland or Ireland. Constructed in current paper discriminant models can be used to identify unknown samples of whisky in terms of origin or age.

Dried and crushed dandelion roots (Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg.) (TO) were used as a formulation additive (at the amount of 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 g 100 g−1 flour) to wheat bread. The farinographic properties of the dough and the physical and chemical properties of the bread were evaluated. It was found that the addition of dried flour caused a significant decrease in water absorption by the flour (1% and higher TO level), an increase in the development time (from 2% to 5% TO addition) and dough stability (3% and 4% TO level), and an increase in dough softening (4% and higher TO level). As the substitution of TO for wheat flour increased, there was a gradual decrease in loaf volume, an increase in specific weight and crumb hardness, and a darkening of the crumb color. The total polyphenol content increased linearly with the percentage increase of dried root additions TO from 0.290 to 0.394 mg GAE g−1 d.m., which translated into an increase in the antioxidant activity of the bread. It was found that dried crushed roots of Taraxacum officinale can be a recipe additive for wheat bread; however, due to their specific smell and bitter aftertaste, the level of this additive should not exceed 3 g 100 g−1 flour.

Legume seeds, such as grass pea, yellow lupine, and narrow-leaf lupine, are highly nutritious and offer a wide range of health benefits. The objective of this research was to explore the possibility of partially replacing wheat flour (at levels of 10, 15, 20, and 25%) with flour derived from these legume seeds in sourdough wheat bread and examine its impact on the physicochemical and sensory properties of the bread. The physical properties of the dough were also assessed. The substitution of wheat flour with ground legume seeds resulted in increased water absorption (from 54.1 to 63.5%) and prolonged dough development time (from 2.0 to 13.5 min). Ground lupine seeds reduced the volume of the bread and increased its crumb density, consequently making the bread harder. The most significant increase in hardness was observed when narrow-leaf lupine flour was added to the wheat flour (from 8.4 to 22.5 N). Narrow-leaf lupine had the greatest impact on enhancing the protein content in the enriched bread (from 11.5 to 20%), while yellow lupine caused the highest increase in fiber content (from 1.9 to 6.9%). The proposed additives slightly but significantly (p < 0.05) increased the antioxidant activity and phenolic content in the bread samples. Importantly, for all legume seeds, replacing up to 15% of the wheat flour allowed the production of bread with high consumer acceptability.