Abstract:
Biscuits are nutritionals that contribute valuable quantities of proteins, calorie, fibre, iron,
calcium and vitamins to our daily nutritional requfrement. Nowadays, plantain flours are
used for the production of bakery products which would help to lessen our total dependence
on imported wheat flour. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the
feasibility of replacing wheat flour with plantain flour (cv. Giant Cavendish) in biscuit
manufacture. The wheat flour was substituted by plantain flour at levels of 0, 20, 40, 60,
80 and 100% (w/w) for biscuits production. Nutritional composition, dough rheology and
sensory attributes of the biscuits were evaluated.
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The protein contents of .wheat and plantain flours were 11.86% and 3.72o/o, respectively.
Fibre and ash contents increased significantly (P<0.05) while the protein content decreased
with increasing levels of plant'din flour in the composite bidcuits. The fibre content ranged
from 1.03 to 3.21o/o iH the formulated biscuits. The protein, fat, carbohydrate and ash
contents of the 40o/o planlain flour fortified biscuit"were 9.64, 21.6, 66.9 and 2.74o/o,
respectively. Biscuits manufactured with 1OO% wheat flour contained 16.27, 2.45, 94.Sg,
1.30, 153.56 and 1.21 mgllQ)glgr calcium, sodiurh, potassium, iron, phosphorus and
copper, respectively. Meanwhilq'5t level of 40o/o of replacement, they increased to 2g.87 ,
3.81, 130.2,3.02,195.tandL36, respectively. The break,stSpngth and spread-value of
wheat-plantain composite biscuits decreased with increasing dilution of wheat with plantain
flourwithout changes in the thickness. At 40 and 80% plantain flour substitution level, the
break-strengths and spread-value were 1.69 fg and 55€8 mm and 1.4S kg and SZ.4S
mm, respectively. The mean scores for colour, texture, flavour and overall acceptability
were generally high for all biscuits samples containing.u pto 40o/o plantain flour. Therefore,
organoleptically acceptable biscuits could be produced from wheat-plantain composite
flours using up to 60:40 ratios of wheat: plantain flour as maximum acceptable levels of
substitution. This will reduce the over-dependence of wheat flour for biscuit manufacture
and also diversify the use of plantain flour.
