Bread-making performance of durum wheat as affected by sprouting

The effects of sprouting duration (24 h, 38 h, 48 h, and 62 h) were assessed on durum wheat kernel characteristics (hardness, test weight), semolina chemical composition, pasting and gluten aggregation properties, and leavening and bread-making performance (bread volume and crumb porosity). Sprouting decreased both kernel hardness (~29%) and test weight (~19%). Starch gelatinization and retrogradation capability, as well as the gluten aggregation properties, decreased as sprouting duration increased. The 62 h sample showed the worst aggregation properties leading to a bread with the lowest specific volume (2.69 mL/g). The best results in terms of bread specific volume (3.08 mL/g) and crumb porosity distribution were obtained using semolina from sprouted wheat up to 38 h. A multivariate approach by Principal Component Analysis and clustering confirmed the relationships between all the considered variables and allowed to assess three sprouting levels: 24–38 h with improved bread-making performance; 48 h with decreased overall quality; 62 h with the worst quality. In conclusion, the sprouting of durum wheat up to 38 h could improve its bread-making attitude.