Utilization of Little Millet Flour for Preparation of Dairy Product

 

 

Sandey KK*, Asgar S, Manorama and Choudhary PL

College of Dairy Technology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.) – 492 006

 

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to use little millet flour in the production of cereal based dairy products, with the objectives of developing suitable technology for the manufacture of millet based dairy product. The product were prepared by incorporating 10, 20 & 30% levels of little millet flour and sugar each in milk and cooked till semisolid consistency product obtained. The product made by admixing little millet flour & sugar of 10% & 30% respectively had better nutritional value and sensory acceptability than the other formulations. Shelf life studies also revealed that the product had better keeping quality up to one week under refrigeration conditions.

 

Keywords: Milk, dairy product and little millet

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Little millet (Panicum miliare) is leading produce under the category of minor millets and constitutes the food of the economically weaker sections of dry land regions in the country. It is known by many regional names viz kutki, sumei, same, samulu, savi, save, and gundli in different parts of the country (Shashidhara et al., 1998). This crop is mostly confined to hilly tract poor tribal communities of the country. It is generally grown by the tribal for its food value. Nutritionally these grains are rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins and comparable or even superior to major cereals in certain nutritional parameters (Mishra and Verma, 1989). It is well known among diabetic patients and helpful in lowering Coronary Heart Diseases incidence, because of its low in saturated fatty acids, rich in carbohydrate and dietary fiber content (Awasthi and Mishra, 2004). Minor millet viz. finger millet (Eleusine coracana) was used by the several workers for the preparation of weaning food, infant food, milk based beverages and other pharmaceutical formulations (Muashtari, 2003; Malleshi and Desikachar, 1979; Narsimha and Malleshi, 2003). Finger millet malt milk based dairy products have high nutritional value, easy digestibility and assimilability for all age groups and value addition to milk based products (Dhillon, 2005 and Mushtari, 2003).

 

Its nutritional properties with immense medicinal importance provide challenge to translate these virtues in value added dairy products. This study was, therefore, undertaken to explore the possibility of utilization of little millet for the manufacture value added dairy products.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

‘AMUL’ pasteurized double toned milk was procured from a shopping complex at Avanti Vihar, located near the College of Dairy Technology, Raipur. Sugar of commercial grade and little millets were procured from the local market Golbazar at Raipur. All Chemicals used in the study were of AR grade. Low density polyethylene of white colour and 60 micron thickness of rectangle shape was used for packaging of the product.

 

Preparation of little millet flour

Little millet was decorticated by the method described by Malleshi et al., (2004) with slight variation in method. The selected grains of little millet were washed with tap water and sun drying till the moisture removed. Electric grinder was used to crush the whole grains and washing as well as winnowing were performed to remove the bran from the crushed materials.


Table 1 Effect of level of little millet flour on sensory characteristics

Little Millet Flour Level

Colour & Appearance

Aroma & Flavour

Sweetness

Body & Texture

Overall Acceptance

10%

6.07

6.15

6.38

6.19

6.27

20%

6.05

6.10

6.49

6.31

6.28

30%

5.98

5.49

6.00

5.47

5.76

CD at 5%

NS

0.41*

NS

0.43*

0.37*

* Significant at  (P < 0.05)

 

Table 2 Effect of level of sugar on sensory characteristics

Sugar Level

Colour & Appearance

Aroma & Flavour

Sweetness

Body & Texture

Overall Acceptance

10%

5.65

5.78

5.73

5.41

5.54

20%

6.09

6.41

6.41

6.22

6.30

30%

6.37

6.58

6.73

6.34

6.47

CD at 5%

NS

0.27*

NS

0.38*

0.33*

* Significant at  (P < 0.05)

 

 


This dehusked grain was then ground to fine powder form (flour) by using roller flour-mills located at Telibandha, Raipur.

 

Manufacture of product:

Double toned milk was used for the manufacture of product. It contained 10.51% total solid, fat 1.51% and solid not fat 9.0%. While titratable acidity was found to be 0.13% lactic acid. The little millet flour and sugar for each concentration was weighed, mixed and added thoroughly with milk at 550C. These blends were then cooked in milk at 850C for 10 minutes. Thus, finally obtained semisolid consistency products. These products were then cooled at room temperature, filled in cleaned rectangle shape LDPE cups and wrapped it with aluminum foil to maintain the freshness of products. These cups were stored at refrigeration temperature after labeling it .

 

Sensory evaluation:

The product was made in replicates of three and served to a panel of 5 semi-trained judges for the sensory evaluation on a 9 point hedonic scale. A rating of 1 indicated least acceptable quality of the product and a rating of 9 indicated most acceptable quality of the product. The shelf life of the product was evaluated up to one week of storage period at an interval of 3 days. The changes in acidity and sensory characteristics such as colour & appearance, aroma & flavour, sweetness, body & texture and overall acceptability were determined at each stage on storage of products.

 
Chemical analysis:

A portion of well mixed product was taken in a clean mortar and ground well to a pasty consistency. Well ground samples were than then taken in required quantity for the chemical analysis.

 

Fat was analyzed by Gerber, protein by Kjeldahl, moisture by oven drying, ash by burning of the solids in Muffle Furnace and the total carbohydrate were calculated after determining the percentage of moisture, protein, fat and total ash (IS:SP:18 Part XI,1981). Acidity was measured by taking 10 g well ground sample and expressed as percent lactic acid. The pH of product was measured by inserting the electrode directly into well ground samples using Systronic digital pH meter at 300C.

 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

Effect of little millet flour level:

The product was manufactured by adding different proportions of little millet flour i.e. 10, 20 and 30% of milk. The sensory score of the product revealed that the product made with 10% of little millet flour scored higher than the other level. However, product containing higher proportions of little millet flour (20 & 30%) was equally acceptable. little millet flour level of 10% easily cooked in milk and develops its own flavour and aroma in combination with sugar at 850C for 10 minutes than other level. The body and texture of product was smooth and soft. The higher level of little millet flour (20 and 30%) has resulted in highly viscous products with extra degree of sogginess resulting in poor score. It has been also noticed that increased sugar concentration in combination with higher little millet flour tried to result in stiff products. Malleshi and Desikachar (1988) in preparation of roller dried weaning food advised for a low concentration of flour in order to reduce the paste viscosity.

 

Statistically there was significant (P < 0.05) effect of the level of little millet flour addition on the aroma & flavour, body & texture, and overall acceptance characteristics of product (Table 1).

 

Effect of sugar level:

Sugar at a level of 10, 20 and 30% of milk was added for the manufacture of product. Addition of sugar enhances the sweetness characteristics and overall acceptability of the product. The sensory scores of the products reveals that the product made with 30% of sugar scored higher than the other level. The result is fulfilling the concept of universal phenomenon that higher the sugar concentration is responsible in higher the sweetness of products. Increased concentration of sugar was also found responsible to enhance the aroma and flavor up to limited extent (Arbuckle, 1984). Increased concentration of sugar in presence of amino acids is found responsible for browning of the product. The typical processing condition dominated by high temperature treatment further increases the appearance and colour of the product. In their study of protein behavior with sugar Jenness and Patton (1969) have also reported the similar kind of mechanism for enhancement of color particularly browning.

 

Analysis of variance of the results showed statistically significant effect of the level of sugar addition on the colour & appearance, aroma & flavour, sweetness, body & texture and overall acceptance at 5% level of significance (Table 2).

 

Chemical composition of product:

As expected the average composition of more acceptable product made by admixing 10% little millet flour and 30% sugar contained 46.6% total solids, 2.0% fat, 4.1% protein, 39.43% total carbohydrate and 1.07% total ash. The higher content of carbohydrate in the standard product was due to higher content of carbohydrates in little millet flour. Similarly, millet protein in combination with milk protein enhances the total protein content of product. Lower content of fatty materials in little millet flour resulted in lower percentage of total fat in the standard product.

 

Table 3 Effect of storage period on sensory characteristics of products

Sensory Characteristics

Storage Period

CD at 5%

Fresh

3 Days

6 Days

Colour & Appearance

6.08

6.04

5.99

NS

Aroma & Flavour

6.07

6.00

5.68

NS

Sweetness

6.07

6.54

6.26

0.35*

Body & Texture

6.03

5.92

6.03

NS

Overall Acceptance

6.11

6.07

6.13

NS

 

Storage studies:

The product was found acceptable up to 6 days on sensory qualities under refrigerated condition. During storage, the titratable acidity of the product slightly increased and also developed flavour defect.  Similar result was obtained by Malleshi et al., (1989). They observed a slight variation in the acid content of malted ragi based weaning food during storage. This could be attributed to lactic acid development by fermentation of lactose in the product during storage. The gradual increase in acidity and decrease in pH made the product unfit for consumption after 6 days of storage.

 

Effect of storage period on sensory characteristics of product:

The healthy storage of the product is vital for its commercial importance. Panel of semi-trained judges using a 9- point hedonic scale to know the sensory quality and overall acceptability of the product on one-week storage was performed for the products. Statistically there was a significant (P < 0.05) effect of storage period on sweetness characteristics (Table 3). Effect of storage period was not found significant on colour & appearance, aroma & flavour, body & texture and overall acceptance attributes of products. It implies that storage period play a great role on sweetness characteristics. Sweetness of the products increases upto 3 days, after that it falls gradually. However, acceptability of the product remains upto 6 days.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

The study indicated that acceptable quality dairy product could be prepared by admixing 10% little millet flour and 30% sugar with respect to milk. The quality of the product was found well within the acceptable limit up to one week of storage at refrigeration conditions.

 

REFERENCES:

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Received on 10.09.2009

Accepted on 12.11.2009   

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Research J.  Science and Tech.  1(2): Sept –Oct.  2009: 71-73