The Effects of Watermelon Rind Flour on the Functional and Proximate Properties of Wheat Bread

The present study was undertaken to develop bread from composite flours. Composite flours were prepared by blending wheat flour with watermelon rind flour in ratios of 100:0 (AB1), 90:10 (AB2), 80:20 (AB3), 70:30 (AB4) and 60:40 (AB5), respectively. This study was carried out to ascertain the effects of watermelon rind flour at different replacement levels (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%) on the proximate and functional properties of composite wheat bread. The results of proximate properties determination on wheat/flour blend gave low bulk densities of 0.54g/cm3 to 0.60g/cm3, high water absorption capacity of 2.389 to 3.044 g/g as well as a high swelling capacity of 5.764 to 7.610 g/g and a low oil absorption capacity of 1.608 to 2.150 g/g. The results of proximate composition of composite bread revealed an increase in % protein, % carbohydrate and % ash from 15.7% to 18.8%, 47.1% to 52.0% and 0.6% to 1.2% respectively and a subsequent decrease in % fat from 18.4% to 13.8. There was a reduction in energy density for composite bread. The functional properties of composite flours such as swelling capacity, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity and bulk density were increased with increase in the incorporation of watermelon rind flour with wheat flour. Thus, the results indicate that by incorporating watermelon rind flour, it is possible to enhance the nutritional quality, chemical and functional properties of bread.