Partial substitution of wheat flour with kiwi starch: Rheology, microstructure changes in dough and the quality properties of bread

Kiwi starch (KS) is a new fruit-derived starch-based food material. In this study, wheat flour was partially replaced with 10–20% KS to make bread, and the influence of this substitution on mixed flour, dough processing performance, bread quality, and shelf life was investigated. KS substitution improved the water-binding ability of mixed flour, making it easier to gelatinize while improving viscoelasticity but reducing the integrity of the dough's gluten network structure. As the substitution rate increases, the hardness, air-cell ratio, and width-to-height ratio of bread significantly increased, while the springiness, resilience, baking loss, and specific volume reduced significantly (p < 0.05). KS enriched the bread's color and flavor by promoting the Maillard reaction during baking. Overall acceptability of 10% KS group was highest in sensory evaluation. KS substitution significantly reduced starch digestibility and expected glycemic index (GI), inhibited mold growth and reproduction during storage and prolonged the shelf life of the bread at 25 °C.