Volume 54 (2004) Issue: 2004 No#2-3

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CORN KERNELS AFTER A HYDROTHERMAL “COOKING” PROCEDURE

Author(s): Krička Tajana, Voća N, Jukić Ž, Čurić Duška, Kiš D, Matin Ana

Keywords:corn kernel, “cooking” procedure, temperatures, starch, protein, oil

The influence of a hydrothermal “cooking” procedure on the starch, protein and oil contents was investigated on two corn hybrids of the same vegetation group (Bc 354 and Bc 394). The “cooking” procedure was started at the moisture contents of 32.73% (for Bc 354) and 31.67% (for Bc 394), which were increased after the “cooking” procedure by 7.36% (for Bc 354) and by 2.96% (for Bc 394). The chemical characteristics of the corn kernels, i.e. starch, protein and oil content, were analysed after drying the kernels at air temperatures of 70oC, 90oC, 110oC and 130oC with or without the prior “cooking” procedure . The results obtained led us to the conclusion that hybrid Bc 354 kernel took a longer time to dry after the “cooking” procedure than hybrid Bc 394 kernel at all selected temperatures, whereas without the “cooking” procedure, hybrid Bc 354 kernel dried more slowly than hybrid Bc 394 kernel only at the temperature of 70oC. After the drying and “cooking” procedures, both hybrids showed an increase in starch content and a decreases in protein and oil content in the kernel when compared to naturally dried kernels. In the same way, starch content increased and oil and protein contents decreased in kernels treated by the “cooking” procedure in comparison to kernels that were only dried.