Instant Flours: The Future of Fast and Nutritious Food
PDF (Spanish)

Keywords

Instant flours
Nixtamalization
tortillas
corn

How to Cite

Instant Flours: The Future of Fast and Nutritious Food. (2025). Digital Ciencia@UAQRO, 18(1), 55-66. https://doi.org/10.61820/dcuaq.v18i1.1693

Abstract

Historically, instant flours were the response to the need for raw materials to produce basic foods, such as bread and tortillas, among others. Their production has been refined to maintain and maximize the nutritional value of the original ingredients, such as cereals and legumes, among others. The main objective of this article is to explore the evolution of instant flours to meet a current goal: satisfying the demand for these basic ingredients for the preparation of nutritious and convenient foods suited to today’s lifestyle. The article will highlight their historical origin, various production processes, and current and future applications, which make them a popular and nutritious food option and establish them as a sustainable and accessible alternative in the food industry.

PDF (Spanish)

References

Atukuri, J., Odong, B. B., & Muyonga, J. H. (2019). Multi-response optimization of extrusion conditions of grain amaranth flour by response surface methodology. Food Science & Nutrition, 7(12), 4147–4162. 10.1002/fsn3.1284.

Byarugaba, R., Nabubuya, A., Muyonga, J., & Mwakha, A. (2023). Effects of roasting conditions on the proximate composition and functional properties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) flours. Tanzania Journal of Science, 49(2), 546-558. 10.4314/tjs.v49i2.23.

Cardoso, R. V. C., Fernandes, A., Gonzaléz-Paramas, A. M., Barros, L., & Ferreira, I. C. F. R. (2019). Flour fortification for nutritional and health improvement: A review. Food Research International, 125. 10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108576

Collingham, L. (2012). Taste of war: World War II and the battle for food. Penguin.

Deepa, C., & Umesh Hebbar, H. (2017). Effect of micronization of maize grains on shelf-life of flour. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 41(5). 10.1111/jfpp.13195.

Domínguez-Hernández, E., Rangel-Hernández, J., Morales-Sánchez, E., & Gaytán-Martínez, M. (2022). Effect of ohmic heating nixtamalization on the structural and physicochemical characteristics of instant maize flours and their relation to starch modifications. Biology and Life Sciences Forum, 20(7). 10.3390/IECBM2022-13380.

Hatamian, M., Noshad, M., Abdanan-Mehdizadeh, S., & Barzegar, H. (2020). Effect of roasting treatment on functional and antioxidant properties of chia seed flours. NFS Journal, 21,1-8. 10.1016/j. nfs.2020.07.004.

Ishita, C., Pooja, N., Sib Sankar, M., Uttam, C. P., Hafizur, R., & Nirmal, M. (2022). An insight into the gelatinization properties influencing the modified starches used in food industry: A review. Food Bioprocess Technology, 15, 1195–1223. 10.1007/s11947-022-02761-z.

Laudadio, V., Bastoni, E., Introna, M. & Tufarelli, V. (2013). Production of low-fiber sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) meal by micronization and air classification processes. CYTA – Journal of Food, 11(4), 398–403. 10.1080/19476337.2013.781681.

Lima-Becerra, I., Balbuena-Alonso, M. G., Dorantes-Campuzano, F., Mojica, L., Loarca-Piña, G., Morales-Sánchez, E., Ramírez-Jiménez, A.K., & Gaytán-Martínez, M. (2021). Ohmic Heating as an Emerging Technology for the Improvement of the Techno-Functional Properties of Common Bean Flour. Biology and Life Sciences Forum, 6(95). 10.3390/Foods2021-11000.

Lu, X., Rongrong, M., Zhan, J., Wang, F., & Tian, Y. (2022). The role of protein and its hydrolysates in regulating the digestive properties of starch: A review. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 25, 54-65. 10.1016/j.tifs.2022.04.027.

Madaraboina, V. R., Akhil, K. G., Sunil, C. K., Venkatachalapathy, N., & Jaganmohan, R. (2021). Effect of microwave treatment on physical and functional properties of foxtail millet flour. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 9(1): 2762-2767. 10.22271/chemi.2021.v9.i1am.11641.

Martínez-Bustos, F., García, M. N., Chang, Y. K., Sánchez-Sinencio,. F., & Figueroa, C. J. D. (2000). Characteristics of nixtamalized maize flours produced with the use of microwave heating during alkaline cooking. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 80, 651–656. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(20000501)80:6<651::AID

-JSFA561>3.0.CO;2-4.

Matz, S. (1972). Bakery Technology and Engineering. Springer New York.

Mahalaxmi, S., Himashree, P., Malini, B., & Sunil, C. K. (2022). Effect of microwave treatment on the structural and functional properties of proteins in lentil flour. Food Chemistry Advances, 1. 10.1016/j.focha.2022.100147.

Ménera-López, I., Gaytán-Martínez, M., Reyes-Vega, M. L., Morales-Sánchez, E., & Figueroa, J. D. (2013). Physico-chemical properties and quality assessment of corn flour processed by a continuous ohmic heating system and traditional nixtamalization. CyTA - Journal of Food, 11, 8–14. 10.1080/19476337.2012.762692.

Nan-nan, A., Li, D., Wang, L.-J., & Wang, Y. (2023). Microwave irradiation of corn kernels: Effects on structural, thermal, functional and rheological properties of corn flour. Food Hydrocolloids, 143.10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.108939

Otondi, E., Nduko, J. & Omwamba, M. (2020). Physico-chemical properties of extruded cassava-chia seed instant flour. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2(3). 10.1016/j.jafr.2020.100058.

Ozolina, K., Sarenkova, I., & Muizniece-Brasava, S. (2024). Estimation of roasted and raw faba bean and lentil flour functional properties. Food & Nutrition Journal, 8. 10.29011/2575-7091.100183.

Pismag, R. Y., Rivera, J. D., Hoyos, J. L., Bravo, J. E. & Roa, D. F. (2024) Effect of extrusion cooking on physical and thermal properties of instant flours: a review. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8.10.3389/fsufs.2024.1398908

Potter, N. N., & Hotchkiss, J. H. (1998). Food Science. Springer Science & Business Media.

Ramírez-Jiménez, A. K., Rangel-Hernández, J., Morales-Sánchez, E.,Loarca-Piña, G., & Gaytán-Martínez, M. (2019). Changes on the phytochemicals profile of instant corn flours obtained by traditional nixtamalization and ohmic heating process. Food Chemistry, 276(2), 57-62. 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.166

Ranganathan, V., Nunjundiah, I. T. & Bhattacharya, S. (2013). Effect of roasting on rheological and functional properties of sorghum flour. Food Science and Technology International, 20(8), 579-589.10.1177/1082013213497210

Rubel, W. (2011). Bread. A global history. Reaktion Books.

Ruiz-Armenta, X. A., Ruiz-Armenta, J. E., Espinoza-Moreno, R. J., Gutiérrez-Dorado, R., Aguilar-Palazuelos, E., Zazueta-Morales, J. J., & Gómez-Favela, M. A. (2022). Aprovechamiento de subproducto de sésamo y extrusión optimizada para obtención de harina funcional con propiedades tecno-funcionales, nutricionales y antioxidantes mejoradas. Acta Universitaria, 32, 1–20. 10.15174/au.2022.3494.

Sun, S., Watts, B. M., Lukow, O. M., & Arntfield, S. D. (2006). Effects of micronization on protein and rheological properties of spring wheat. Cereal Chemistry, 83(4), 340–347. 10.1094/CC-83-0340

Zhou, W., Therdthai, N., & Hui, Y. H. (2014). Introduction to Baking and Bakery Products, en W. Zhou, Y. H. Hui, I. De Leyn, M. A. Pagani, C. M. Rosell, J. D. Selman, N. Therdthai (Eds.), Bakery Products: Science and Technology (Second Edition). John Wiley & Sons

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2025 Digital Ciencia@UAQRO