Proximate Composition and Some Functional Properties of Soft Wheat Flour

Abstract

5 ABSTRACT: The objective of this research was to assess the proximate composition and selected functional properties of soft wheat flour. The commercially available soft wheat flour was purchased from local suppliers at Kajetia market in Kumasi-Ghana. The flour were cleaned of foreign materials and sieved through 75 μm. The flours were packaged in air-tight plastic containers prior to analyses. The flours were analyzed for their proximate composition. The flour functional properties were determined and compared with those of asomdwee cowpea flour. The results showed that the soft wheat flour had higher (1.33%) fat and carbohydrate content (83.60%) than the cowpea flour. The crude protein, fibre, moisture and ash content were all lower in soft wheat flour as compared to the cowpea flour. However, the bulk density, oil and water absorption capacity of the wheat flour were not significantly different from the cowpea flour. Solubility, swelling power and foam capacity of the wheat flours were lower as compared to the cowpea flour.