Soluble dietary fibres in Jerusalem artichoke powders: composition and application in bread

Powders of tubers from Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus, L.), cultivar Gigant, of different harvesting times (autumn and spring) were applied in bakery products, particularly in wheat/rye bread. The quality of this bread was compared to bread with cereal flours substituted with commercial products as Raftilin ST and Raftilose P95. Compared to standard and substituted bread, Jerusalem artichoke bread shows a high quality in organoleptic evaluation (grade I with 36.5 and 37.5 scores). In utilised Jerusalem artichoke powders (JAPs) the amount of fructan (inulin) hydrolysis to fructose during the baking process depends on its initial degree of polymerisation (dp). With JAP of autumn harvest (fructan: dpn = 9.9, dpw = 21.8) less fructose (24.6%) is formed than with those of spring harvest (fructan: dpn = 4.9, dpw = 7.1) (40.7%). Compared to this bread, substitution with commercial products Raftilin ST (inulin: dpn = 8.4, dpw = 17.4) and Raftilose P95 (fructo-oligosaccharides: dpn = 2.7, dpw = 3.0) yields 11.9% and 45.8% of fructose upon total hydrolysis, respectively. The loss of fructan content by the bakery process is 38% in bread with JAP of autumn and 43% in bread with JAP of spring harvest; Raftilin ST- and Raftilose P95-bread come up with loss of fructan content of 35% and 47%, respectively.