The effects of ripening on the chemical composition and functional properties of plantain at different post harvest stages were studied. The cake baking performance of composite flour made from the blends of the plantain flour and wheat flour at different substitution levels were also evaluated. The result of proximate analysis showed that there were slight increases in moisture content, crude fibre, and ash and fat content as ripening progressed. The carbohydrate was shown to decrease while the protein increased from 2.8% in unripe plantain to 3.5% in firm ripe plantain; it then decreased to 2.6% in softripe plantain. Emulsion capacity, oil and water absorption capacities, viscosity, and swelling capacity were found to be higher in unripe plantain flour than firmripe flour, while whipping capacity of firmripe plantain flour was slightly higher than that of unripe plantain flour. It was also observed that as ripening progressed, the drying rate of the plantain slices decreased. The result of the sensory evaluation of composite flour cake from the plantain showed that the unripe plantain flour produced more acceptable cakes than those made from the firmripe plantain flour at all levels of substitution of the wheat flour. Acceptable cakes could be produced from wheat flour substituted up to 50% with any of the plantain flours.

A widely cultivated cocoyam variety, Xanthosoma sagittifollium, was assessed for its suitability for lager beer production, using malted Sorghum vulgare (white variety) for saccharification of the substrate. The three-mash decoction method was used. Results showed that the cocoyam was superior to barley and sorghum as a substrate because of its potentially higher carbohydrate content (71-78%) compared to barley (65%) and sorghum (70-73%). The percentage wort extract was 13.3-14.5 degrees plato compared to 7-12 for barley and 13 degrees for the tuber crop, cassava. The kiln dried Xanthosoma sagittifollium gave a dark bager beer with good aroma (68%) and very good flavour (73%) when compared with a commercial lager beer (Monarch) as standard (100%). The alcohol content (4.16% w/v) and the specific gravity (1013) were within the range (4.0-6.4%) and (1011-1019), respectively, specified by the Standard Organization of Nigeria. Although the bitterness value 40 EBU, was higher than the typical range 16-30 EBU, the taste panel indicated this was acceptable. The pH was 4.68 compared with the standard 4.36, while the acidity (as % lactic acid) was 0.36 compared to 0.24 for some commercial products.

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