Quality Evaluation of Maize Chips (Kokoro) Fortified with Cowpea Flour

Quality evaluation of “kokoro” fortified with cowpea flour (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 %) was studied. The blends were reconstituted into a thick paste, manually moulded into kokoro stick and deep fried in hot vegetable oil at about 1700C for 5 minutes. These flour blends were analyzed for pasting, proximate and functional properties. The result showed that there was significant difference (p < 0.05) in the proximate composition in all the bends. The protein content ranged from 15.20 – 23.03% while ash content was between 1.29 – 1.90%, which increased with increase in cowpea flour. The carbohydrate, fat and fiber contents decreased with values ranging from 59.17 – 65.00%, 3.24 – 4.40% and 2.23 – 2.96%, respectively. The pasting characteristics of the maize cowpea blends gave a peak viscosity ranging from 510 – 702 cp. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the pasting time and temperature. The functional properties reflected that water absorption, oil absorption and foaming capacity significantly increased with increase in cowpea flour with their values ranging from 186.67 – 210.00 g/100 g, 163.33 – 195.00 g/mg and 30.73 – 39.27% respectively. Bulk density also followed the same trend. Sample CAF (100% maize) reflected the highest dispersibility value (6.63%). No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the swelling capacity and least gelatinization concentration. Although the sensory result indicated that increase in cowpea flour does not show a significant difference (p > 0.05) in the sensory parameters, the overall acceptability of the samples was highly rated.Keywords: Maize, cowpea, physicochemical properties, kokoro, fortification

Effect of natural fermentation on nutritional composition and anti-nutrients in soy-wara (A Nigerian fried soy-cheese)

This study was carried to evaluate the effect of natural fermentation on nutritional composition and anti-nutrients in soy-wara. A total of 100 samples consisting of five treatments of 20 samples per each treatment were studied. Yellow soybeans were soaked and fermented for 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 72 hrs and 96 hrs respectively at 27±2°C with 0 hr as control. Fermented soybeans were used for soy-wara production and soy-wara samples were evaluated for nutritional (amino acid, vitamin and mineral profile) and anti-nutritional (phytate, tannin and trypsin inhibitor activity) qualities. Results of amino acids analysis showed that tryptophan, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, leucine and lysine contents in the fermented soy-wara ranged from 3.49 to 6.75, 21.94 to 24.41, 20.60 to 23.98, 22.11 to 27.15, 33.16 to 36.51 and 24.16 to 26.27 mg/100 g respectively. The values of thiamine, riboflavin and niacin contents in the fermented soy-wara ranged from 1.60 to 1.87, 1.44 to 1.71 and 2.21 to 2.78 mg/100 g respectively. The mineral elements calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, phosphorus and magnesium contents in the fermented soy-wara ranged from 17.65 to 19.08, 6.94 to 8.41, 29.76 to 30.69, 8.31 to 9.42, 27.52 to 28.55 and 21.02 to 24.83 mg/100 g respectively. Soaking and fermentation reduced the tannin content from 115.64 to 43.26 mg/100 g; phytate content from 153.81 to 47.16 mg/100 g, trypsin inhibitor from 96.56 to 1.10 mg/100 g and protease inhibitor from 98.11 to 1.2 mg/100 g respectively. In conclusion, natural fermentation of the legume reduced anti-nutritional factors and improved the nutrient composition of the product.</p

Quality characteristics and consumer acceptance of bread from wheat and rice composite flour

The quality characteristics and consumer acceptance of wheat-rice composite flour bread were evaluated. Substitution of rice flour was done in wheat flour from 0 to 100% and the composite flour was used to produce bread. The bread samples were subjected to proximate, physical, and sensory analyses. The results showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the proximate compositions of bread samples studied. Bread from control (100% wheat flour) had moisture content of 28.61±0.28%. Bread from 10-50% wheat-rice composite flour had moisture contents ranged from 28.04±0.41 - 24.81±0.40%. The oven spring of the samples from control (100% wheat flour) had the highest value of 1.12±0.28 cm. The oven spring of wheat-rice composite bread ranged between 1.00±0.22 and 0.82±0.38 cm. There was inverse relationship between loaf weight (g), loaf volume and specific volume and the quantities of rice flour added to the wheat flour. The results of consumer acceptance showed that bread with 70:30 wheat: Rice flour ratio was acceptable to the consumers. In conclusion, bread of good quality and good consumer acceptance could be made from wheat-rice composite flour.</p

Evaluation of nutritional composition, physico-chemical and sensory properties of ‘Robo’ (A Nigerian traditional snack) produced from watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) seeds

This study evaluated the nutritional composition, physico-chemical and sensory properties of ‘Robo’ (a Nigerian traditional snack) produced from watermelon seeds in order to improve the utilization of watermelon seeds in producing value-added products, acceptable to the consumers. Watermelon seeds were dehulled, dried and used to prepared ‘Robo’ in the laboratory and control samples were prepared from melon seeds. The proximate analysis, amino acid profile, vitamin, mineral and heavy metal profile and consumer acceptance of the ‘Robo’ samples were determined using standard methods. The results showed that there were no significant differences (p≥0.05) in the proximate composition of the ‘Robo’ samples from watermelon and melon seeds. There were significant differences (p≤0.05) in amino acid, vitamin and mineral profile of ‘Robo’ samples from watermelon and melon seeds. The amino acid concentration in g/100 g crude protein of ‘Robo’ for lysine, arginine and leucine were 4.58±0.01, 1.82±0.00 and 4.92±0.01 respectively for ‘Robo’ produced from watermelon seeds while 4.91±0.01, 2.01±0.00 and 5.16±0.01 respectively were recorded for ‘Robo’ produced from melon seeds. The study showed that the ‘Robo’ samples contained high amounts of vitamin B-complex and minerals and low amounts of heavy metals. In conclusion, the ‘Robo’ samples from watermelon seeds and control samples had high sensory scores and were well acceptable to the consumers. With these research findings, watermelon seeds could be used for the production of ‘Robo’ as a promising raw material. This will create ready-made market for the underutilized watermelon seeds and as well as creating more income to watermelon farmers.</p