Effect of pasta shape and gluten on pasta cooking quality and structural breakdown during mastication

Oral processing behaviour of food is affected by the structural characteristics of the food matrix, including rheological and mechanical attributes as well as the size and shape. Pasta, a staple starchy food, may have a very similar macrostructure (shape) but a very different microstructure in gluten-containing (GC) and gluten-free (GF) products. In this context, this study aims to investigate the effect of pasta shape (in the presence and absence of gluten) on cooking/textural properties, chewing behaviour and structural breakdown during oral processing. The results suggest that the shape and presence of gluten affect not only the pasta texture but also the mastication behavior with gluten significantly increasing the mastication effort whereas a small pasta shape may trigger swallowing of almost not masticated pieces. The shape and gluten can therefore be used as a strategy to modulate chewing behavior, with possible effects on both perception and intake.