Functional, Sensory and Cooking Qualities of Acha-Tigernut Noodles

The functional, sensory and cooking characteristics of noodles from blends of Acha-tigernut composite flour were investigated. The flour blends and noodles produced were analyzed for functional properties and cooking characteristics. The tiger nut flour was substituted into acha flour at 5, 10, 15 and 20% to produce Acha-tigernut composite flour which was used with other ingredients (salt and powdered ginger) to produce acha-tigernut based noodles. The functional properties of the flour, sensory and cooking characteristics of the noodles produced were determined. The water absorption capacity and swelling capacity increased from 210.59 to 215.53 (g/g) and 524.43 to 586.57, respectively with increase in tigernut flour. While oil absorption, solubility and bulk density decreases from 209.80 to 192.72 (g/g), 10.17 to 5.19 and 0.79 to 0.61 (g/ml) respectively. The swelling capacity ranged from 524.43 to 586.57 (%) with an increase in tigernut flour. The final viscosity of the samples was found to range from 2833.00to 2201.00 (m2/s). The peak properties decreased from 2680.67 to 1580.33 (RVU). The pasting temperature increases from 82.47to 87.57°C. The addition of tigernut decreased the trough, breakdown and peak time from 1730.67 to 1205.67, 985.67 to 434.67, and 5.84 to 5.71 RVU, respectively. The average mean scores for colour decreased from 6.95 to -6.30(%) While that of taste, flavor, texture and general acceptability increased from 5.55 to 6.60, 5.95 to 6.85 (%), 5.95 to 6.44 (%) and 6.70 to 6.83 (%), respectively, as the percentage of tigernut increased.