Effects of different carbohydrases on the physicochemical properties of rice flour, and the quality characteristics of fermented rice cake.

The rice flours were hydrolyzed using α-amylase (A), α-amylase and xylanase (AX), and α-amylase, xylanase and β-amylase (AXB). The effects of different enzymatic rice flour hydrolysates (ERH) on the quality of the fermented rice cake (FRC) were determined at 25 °C for 4 days. ERH had higher porosity, water absorption index, water solubility index and lower viscosity than the control. Moisture content of FRC center decreased significantly after 4 days. Specific volumes of fresh A-, AX- and AXB-FRC were higher than the control. Color of fresh A-FRC was closer to that of the control. AXB-FRC had lower hardness and firming rate than other samples during storage. After 4 days of storage, FRC with ERH had lower endotherm enthalpy and more uniform and clearer pore structure than the control. Therefore, the ERH with single or mixed enzymes could improve the structure of FRC, and extend its shelf-life.