Biscuit Making Potentials of Cooking Banana and Yellow Maize Flour Blends

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the biscuit making potentials of cooking banana and yellow maize flour blends. Cooking banana and yellow maize were processed and milled into flour then blended for composite biscuit production. The samples were coded as follows; A=100:0, B=90:10, C= 80:20, D=70:30, E=60:40 and F=0:100 of maize and cooking banana respectively. All the samples were subjected to laboratory analysis for proximate and minerals using standard methods. Sensory properties of the biscuit were also evaluated by 20 panelist. Data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS and the result recorded as mean ± standard deviation while the mean was separated using Duncan New Multiple Range (P<0.05). The results were 0.50 to 120.75% protein, 4.08 to 5.10% moisture, 3.45 to 7.15% fat, 2.13 to 3.68% fibre and 77.81 to 82.91% carbohydrate. The minerals were 0.50 to 120.75 mg Ca, 4.10 to 12.75 mg Fe, 124.66 to 176.10 mg Mg, 10.32 to 24.75 mg Na, 1.45 to 2.13 mg Zn and 50. 22 to 116.33 mg P. There was significant different (P≤0.05) in texture, colour, appearance, flavor and overall acceptability of biscuits made from the composite flour. The study has revealed that biscuits of high nutrient dense and acceptable organoleptic properties could be produced from yellow maize and cooking banana composite flour blends. The use of yellow maize and cooking banana flour in biscuits preparation resulted in significant improvement in the nutrient content of the composite biscuits.