Physical Characteristics and Mineral Composition of Bread Produced from Blends of Wheat and Defatted/Undefatted Cashew Kernel Flours

The present study was aimed at assessing the physical characteristics and mineral composition of breads produced from blends of wheat-defatted/undefatted cashew kernel flours. Cashew kernel was processed into flour and thereafter divided into two portions. One portion was left undefatted while the other portion was defatted using a hydraulic press. Bread was prepared from the blends of wheat and defatted/undefatted cashew kernel flours using 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, of wheat flour to defatted cashew kernel flour (DCF) and wheat flour to undefatted cashew kernel flour (UCF), respectively and 100% wheat flour as control. Mineral composition and physical characteristics of the composite breads was determined using standard methods. The study revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the calcium (12.21-24.60 mg/100 g), iron (1.08-5.13 mg/100 g), potassium (4.13-19.63 mg/100 g), sodium (0.27-0.55 mg/100 g), zinc (0.05-2.25 mg/100 g) and magnesium (4.29-23.72mg/100g) contents as the proportion of defatted and undefatted cashew kernel flour increased. Defatting resulted to a significantly (p<0.05) higher increase in the mineral contents of the bread samples. Physical characteristics of the composite bread showed a decrease in the height (8.00-5.20 cm), length (12.30-11.25 cm), width (8.00-7.45 cm), loaf volume (682.50-505.00 cm3) and specific volume (2.62-2.08 g/cm3) as amounts of defatted and undefatted cashew kernel flour substitution increased. Weight of the bread increased as substitution with 10% defatted and undefatted cashew kernel flour. Beyond the 10% level, a decrease in bread weight was observed. The findings of the present study therefore showed that wheat flour bread supplemented with 10% UCF cashew kernel flour produced bread of higher mineral content than 100% wheat flour bread and this level of UCF substitution did not have adverse effect on the bread’s physical characteristics.