SLIT RHEOMETER STUDIES OF WHEAT FLOUR DOUGH

Rheological properties of bread dough having different levels of added gluten (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5%) were measured. The dough was forced through a slit die attached to a cylindrical container. The material functions of interest included steady shear viscosity, first normal stress coefficient in steady shear flow derived from hole pressure measurements and planar extensional viscosity as estimated from entrance pressure drop measurements. These rheological properties were correlated to the loaf volume of the baked bread. Results indicate that the first normal stress coefficient and planar extensional viscosity were affected by the gluten content of the dough and correlated well with the loaf volume. The entrance pressure drop increased with increasing apparent shear rate but entrance correction was found to decrease with apparent shear rate. Water had a greater effect on the rheological properties than gluten content. The Trouton ratio was rather large and ranged between 850 to 2000 at a strain rate of 1s^‐1 and decreased with increasing extension rate for most cases.