Application of Lactobacillus as Adjunct Cultures in Wheat Dough Fermentation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential use of Lactobacillus from traditional Chinese sourdoughs of different regions as original adjunct cultures in the steamed bread making process. The effects of Lactobacillus on dough and steamed bread were evaluated. Some differences were obtained in the parameters of fermented dough (organic acid content, rheofermentative parameters, pH, and total titratable acidity [TTA]) and steamed bread (hardness, specific volume, organic acid content, shape, color, pH, TTA and sensory score) made with five different Lactobacillus strains (Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Weissella confusa, Lactobacillus crustorum, and Pediococcus acidilactici). Steamed bread made with P. pentosaceus showed a significant increase in specific volume (from 2.19 to 2.41) and a decrease in hardness (from 3,158 g to 2,301 g). Dough leavened by L. fermentum showed significantly higher amounts of lactic acid and acetic acid than dough inoculated with W. confusa, which had values similar to those of the control. The dough fermented by P. pentosaceus exhibited the most gas production (1,811 mL), which is an important index of streamed bread quality. Our research provides a reference for making steamed bread with Lactobacillus. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Probiotic Lactobacillus is widely used to produce fermenting foods and has been used in bread processing to improve the quality and characteristics of bread. Steamed bread is one of the most popular fermented foods in northern China. However, there is little information about the application of Lactobacillus in Chinese steamed bread. This study explored the potential use of Lactobacillus to improve the characteristics and quality of steamed bread.