Food waste is a current global problem. The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of reintroducing bread discarded by retailers in the preparation of sugar-snap cookies. Bread flours were obtained from stale breads (white and whole wheat) milled with 200, 500 and 1000 μm sieves. Cookies were elaborated using 100% bread flours and combinations of 50% of bread flour and wheat flour. The rheology of the doughs, the dimensions of the cookies, their texture and colour were evaluated. Bread flour doughs presented higher G’ (elastic modulus), G” (viscous modulus) values than the control, especially with increased particle size. Bread flour cookies had a smaller diameter and a harder texture than the control, but in the case of whole bread flours of larger particle sizes, those differences were reduced. Cookies made with bread flour had a darker colour and higher a* values. The 50% mixtures did not present significant differences with respect to the control in terms of dough rheology, hardness, or lightness. Although the spreading factor was reduced, it was more similar to the control than to 100% bread flour cookies. Wasted bread flour can thus be used to replace wheat flour in cookie formulations.

Bread is one of the most wasted products in both industry and retail. This study analysed the use of bread flour of various particle sizes (1000 lm, 500 lm and 200 lm) in different percentages for sponge formulations (10% and 20%) and layer cakes (10%, 20% and 30%). Viscosity, microstructure and density of batters, as well as specific volume, texture and colour of cakes were evaluated. The inclusion of bread flour change batter microstructure. Viscosity does not affect the sponge batters but it tends to increase in the layers, mostly in the case of finer flours. The specific volume is reduced in sponge cakes while hardness is generally increased, even with the lowest percentages of bread flour. In layers, this reduction in volume is only visible at the highest doses of flours below 500 microns with no changes in hardness.

Bread is wasted at different stages in the food value chain, mainly in industry and retail markets. Wasted bread can be milled into flour to be used in the elaboration of other food products. Milling can generate flours with different particle sizes that influence their properties. This study analysed the effect of particle size (200, 500 and 1000 μm) on the hydration, pasting and gel properties of flours elaborated with four different stale breads. Bread flours show a higher cold water absorption capacity and a lower oil absorption capacity than wheat flour. No differences in water absorption properties after heating were observed. The viscosity curves of bread flours presented lower values than wheat flour curves, and the gels obtained were weaker. Bread flour properties were not influenced by different particle sizes. Therefore, a less aggressive milling, with a lower energy cost, can generates flours with properties similar to finer flours.

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