Quality Improvement and Characterization for Production of Acceptable High-Quality Brown Rice Tofu in Japan

The aim of this study was to improve the quality of brown rice tofu to produce it with a superior-quality. When the brown rice flour was heat treated with water, the water absorption rate of flour decreased using brown rice flour with a particle size range of < 212 μm when compared with that of brown rice flour with a particle size range of < 475 μm. The cohesiveness and gumminess of brown rice tofu made from brown rice flour with a particle size range of < 212 μm were fairly high in comparison with those of brown rice tofu made from brown rice flour with a particle size range of < 475 μm. In addition, the adhesiveness and cohesiveness of brown rice tofu remarkably decreased when heating and kneading times of brown rice flour dough were extended. By textural and sensory analyses, it became clear that the use of brown rice flour with a particle size range of < 212 μm and the extension of gelatinization time and heating and kneading times of the dough were important factors for preparation of high-quality brown rice tofu. Therefore, the results indicated that it could produce acceptable high-quality brown rice tofu having smooth and new palate feeling while suppressing adhesiveness and stickiness peculiar to rice flours.