Effects of Date Stone Powder on Characteristics of Biscuit Dough and Hard Biscuit

Date stone is one of the by-products of date processing factories with a high nutritional value and high fiber content. Therefore، it has a great potential for enrichment of different food products. The main aim of this study was to determine the effects of date stone powder on the quality of dough and the biscuits produced. Date powder was added to the biscuit formula at different levels of 0، 5، 10 and 15% (flour weight basis) and the rheological properties of dough and physical and sensory characteristics of the made biscuits were studied. Farinograph results showed that by increasing the level of date stone powder، the dough water absorption capacity is increased، dough consistency is decreased and dough softening character is increased. In addition، the resulted biscuit density is increased while the volume is decreased. The results of the Texture Analyser indicated that by increasing the percentage of the date stone powder، the resulted biscuit hardness is increased. Most of these changes were statistically significant (P<0. 05) at 10 and 15% addition of date stone powder as compared to the 0 and 5%. Addition of less than 15% date stone powder resulted in a product with appropriate sensory properties. Considering the low cost، availability and the nutritional value of date stone powder particularly fiber، carbohydrates، mineral، protein and oil، the powder might be employed for enrichment of biscuits. Based on the findings، the addition of less than 15 powder to the dough resulted in biscuits with increased nutritional value particularly higher fiber content and desirable sensory characteristics.