Effects of cobalt‐60 γ‐irradiation and mechanical damage on soft wheat flour

Several cake flours were irradiated with 60Co γ‐rays and subjected to chemical, physicochemical and cake‐making evaluation. Ball‐milled and pin‐milled samples were similarly studied. Damage to volume, grain and texture characteristics of white layer cakes occurred between 0.1 and 1.0 × 106 rads, and greater dosages caused progressively more deterioration. Profound changes in starch and protein occurred as the result of irradiation. Mechanical damage by pin‐ and (especially) ball‐milling affected the properties of the starch and protein, but not always in the same way as irradiation. Whereas milling led to improvement in cake quality, irradiation apparently did not.