Optimization of production of buckwheat granola enriched with bee products with response surface methodology

Adequate and balanced nutrition is effective in maintaining health and increases the quality of life. Today, interest in functional foods that are easy to prepare, give a feeling of satiety and have nutritious properties has increased, so the market volume of healthy snacks has increased. Bars, fruit and nuts, cereal products and granola take the most important share among healthy snacks. Granola is a fiber-rich, compressed and cooked snack containing cereals, dried fruit, nuts and binders. It is a high fiber, phenolic antioxidant, vitamin, mineral and energy source. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) has high antioxidant activity. By sprouting, the digestibility, health benefits and nutritional value of grains increase. Bee products are used in the treatment of many diseases and have come to the fore with their nutritional capacity. In this study, "Sprouted Buckwheat Granola Bar Enriched with Bee Products" was produced. It was aimed to optimize the process by response surface methodology (RSM) by selecting cooking temperature (160-180-200 oC), buckwheat germination time (0, 1, 2 days) and buckwheat: oat ratio (25-50-100%) as independent variables. Color, texture, water activity, moisture content, total antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content and sensory characterization of granola bars by (QDA) technique were performed. As the germination time increased, fragility, water activity, color intensity, vanilla aroma, propolis and fruit flavor, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and flavonoid substance content increased; b* and chroma value, crumbling, hardness, surface roughness decreased. While the increase in cooking temperature decreased L* value, moisture content, vanilla flavor, sweetness, antioxidant capacity, a*, b* and chroma values, phenolic and flavooid substance content increased. The increase in buckwheat ratio caused an increase in buckwheat, propolis and fruit flavor, hardness and fragility, color intensity. On the other hand, it caused a decrease in oat odour, oat and caramel flavor and color parameters.