How well do early-generation quality tests predict flour performance?

A wide range of flours varying in prote in content, strength and baking quality were used to investigate the relationship between early-generation screening tests at the Cereal Research Centre, advanced generation testing at the Grain Research Laboratory (GRL) and pilot-scale commercial testing at the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) and Warburton Foods Ltd. Correlations among flour protein content, mixograph, farinograph and baking characteristics were performed. Strong correlations were found between protein content, mixograph peak height and mixograph total energy with baking water absorption at advanced, and pilot-scale commercial levels of baking, which gave a good indication of all baking quality parameters. Mixograph characteristics and protein content from early generation tests furnished information that correlated with baking data and with farinograph measurements.