Properties of Particle Size Distribution from Milled White Nixtamalized Corn Kernels as a Function of Steeping Time.

This paper focuses on the particle size distribution (PSD) changes during nixtamalized corn kernels (NCK) as a function of the steeping time (ST). The process to obtain powder or corn flour from NCK was as follows: (i) the NCK with different STs were wet-milled in a stone mill, (ii) dehydrated by a Flash type dryer, and (iii) pulverized with a hammer mill and sieved with a 20 mesh. The powder was characterized by measuring the PSD percentage, calcium percentage (CP), peak viscosity at 90°C (PV), and crystallinity percentage (CP). The PSD of the powder as a function of ST was determined by sieving in Ro-TAP equipment. By sieving, five fractions of powder were obtained employing meshes 30, 40, 60, 80, and 100. The final weight of the PSD obtained from the sieving process follows a Gaussian profile with the maximum corresponding to the average particle obtained with mesh 60. The calcium percentage as a function of ST follows a behavior similar to the weight of the PSD. The study of crystallinity versus the mesh number shows that it decreases for smaller mesh number. A similar behavior is observed as steeping time increases, except around ST = 8 h where the gelatinization of starch is observed. The trend of increasing viscosity values of the powder samples occurs when increasing ST and decreasing particle size. The ST significantly changes the crystallinity and viscosity values of the powder and, in both cases, a minimum value is observed in the region 7-9 h. The experimental results show that the viscosity increases (decreases) if the particle size decreases (increases).

Characteristics of nixtamalised maize flours produced with the use of microwave heating during alkaline cooking.

Whole, ground and abrasively dehulled grains from both normal (H-34 and H-34) and quality protein (QPM and QPMa) maize were mixed with water contents of 70, 95 and 100 g kg-1 and calcium hydroxide concentrations of 0.0, 0.3, 0.5 and 2.0 g kg-1 and heated (operating frequency 2.450 MHz, high-power setting) for 10, 15 and 20 min in a commercial microwave oven. The cooked grain was then oven dried and milled to obtain nixtamalised maize flour (NMF). The protein contents and test weights of QPM were higher than for the normal hybrids. The highest yields of masa and tortillas were found for the normal hybrids, and these samples did not show significant differences, as compared with the commercial nixtamalised flour (CNMF) used as control, with respect to masa firmness and adhesiveness and tortilla tensile strength. The cutting force of tortillas from hybrid H-30 and QPM did not show significant differences from the control. The highest values of tortilla rollability were found for the control followed by hybrid H-34. The values of residual cooking liquor for microwave-heated samples were lower than for the control. Ground or dehulled maize grain gave sticky masa and poor mechinical characteristics. Tortillas from whole grain showed good characteristics of texture and consistency of masa, and the tortillas were subjectively similar in colour, flavour and rollability to the tortillas prepared with CNMF. These results indicate a potential use of microwave energy to produce NMF for tortillas and derivatives. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.