Effect of static magnetic field on the quality of frozen bread dough

Abstract The magnetic field is an emerging physical method used for food preservation, characterized by its high penetrability in food materials. The effect of a static magnetic field (MF, 2 mT) on frozen dough upon freeze-thaw treatments (3, 7, and 10 cycles) was investigated, with conventional freeze-thaw (CF) treatments being used as control. Results showed that the magnetic field ensured the baked bread made from dough a 17.59% larger specific volume and a 30.87% smaller crumb hardness. It accelerated the time for the dough to pass through the maximum ice crystal formation zone by 7 min and reduced the ice melting enthalpy from 63.55 J/g to 56.67 J/g after 10 freeze-thaw cycles. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis suggested that the conversion of bound water to immobilized water and free water was inhibited. The yeast viability and activity were also better maintained, precisely as the observed increase of 18.18% and 42.23% in its survival and gassing power. After 10 freeze-thaw cycles, the free disulfide (SH) content was determined to be 1.642 μmol/g for CF doughs and 1.624 μmol/g for MF ones, respectively. A reduction of 24.26% in glutenin macropolymer depolymerization was achieved, indicated a more stable gluten structure under the magnetic field.