FoodNet

Experimental cookery

1932

Page 444

Presented as published in 1932. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
The factors that affect the amount of fat absorbed by doughnuts may be outlined as follows. Other factors than those listed may also affect the amount of fat absorbed: (1) surface area, (2) the temperature of the ingredients when mixed, (3) the extent of mixing, (4) the kind and brand of flour used, (5) the amount of flour, (6) the cooking temperature and the length of time of cooking, (7) letting the dough stand before frying, and (8) variation in the proportion of ingredients used in the recipe. All the above factors either directly or indirectly affect the texture and also the tenderness of the doughnuts. Surface area. Other things being equal, the greater the surface area the greater the fat absorption. The total surface area of doughnuts may be increased by stretching the dough in handling and by cracks on the surface of the dough. The thicker the doughnut is rolled, the smaller the total surface area in proportion to the weight of the doughnut. The thickness of the dough in all the following experiments is ^ inch. This is controlled by rolling the dough between cleats tacked to a bread board. Temperature of ingredients when mixed. The results in Table 61 show that the temperature of the ingredients when mixed has a decided 558 FATS AND OILS effect upon the amount of fat absorbed during cooking. The tenderness of the doughnuts was as marked as the fat absorption, for all the doughnuts of series II were tougher than those of series I. The dough made from the materials that had been incubated at 40°C. developed very rapidly, be- coming quite elastic and rubbery in a short time. The dough stretched yet was so tenacious that it was difficult to divide it. It had a tendency to draw up and shrink after rolling. With this temperature even 60 strokes was too long to mix the dough to secure tender doughnuts. The best temperature of the ingredients to secure doughnuts of desirable texture and tenderness is about 22° to 27°C. (72° to 80°F.). TABLE 61 Variation in Fat Absorption Due to Difference in Temperature of THE Ingredients of the Dough When Mixed, Six Doughnuts in Each Lot. Cooked 3 Minutes at 175° to 180°C. Number strokes for mixing Tempera- ture of in- gredients when first mixed Weight of uncooked dough- nuts, grams Weight of cooked dough- nuts, grams Fat ab sorbed Experi- ment 94 Grams Per cent 1,1 60 22°C. 140.6 181.1 60.5 33.4 2 80 143.5 179.5 55.5 30.9 3 100 144.0 175.0 47.0 26.8 4 120 141.0 169.9 47.0 27.8 11,1 60 40°C. 146.6 158.6 28.0 17.6 2 80 145.8 154.8 26.0 16.7 3 100 153.7 161.7 24.5 15.1 4 120 150.4 159.4 24.5 15.3 A word of explanation is necessary regarding the percentage of fat absorbed. As given in the tables it is only approximate. Doughnuts both lose and gain weight during cooking. Moisture is lost and fat is absorbed. The only accurate way to obtain the percentage of fat absorbed in dough- nuts is to run an analysis on the ingredients used, i.e., to determine the amount of fat in the dough and in the cooked doughnuts. This requires too long for regular class work. Denton has suggested that the percentage of fat be calculated on the weight of the cooked doughnuts, and this has been followed in determining the percentage of fat given in the tables. The uncooked weight of the doughnuts is also given.