Résumé
Pasta cooking quality is well known to be related to semolina protein content and composition, however impact of the unextractable polymeric protein content (%UPP) remains disputed. In this work different semolina samples, of variable protein contents (10.5–14.2%) and %UPP (20.2–46.3%) are studied. The changes in %UPP induced by the successive pasta processing steps (mixing, extrusion, drying) but also those occurring during resting periods at 35 °C, applied in-between them, were investigated. Effect of a resting period was moderate after mixing, but pronounced after extrusion. Resting of extruded pasta at 35 °C significantly increased %UPP, which can even grow beyond that of the semolina. No relationship was found between pasta viscoelastic index (VI) and semolina %UPP or protein content. However, cooked pasta VI was found related to the calculated %UPP of rested fresh pasta.