The impact of mechanical scouring and moisture conditioning on the in vitro protein digestibility and quality of roller-milled green lentil (Lens culinaris) and yellow pea (Pisum sativum)

Background and ObjectivesMilling practices, otherwise refined for specific uses in cereal-based foods, have not been thoroughly developed for pulses. This study investigates whether scouring and moisture conditioning pretreatments on yellow peas and green lentils can enhance hull removal, and in turn, whether changes in hull removal alter in vitro protein digestibility and quality.FindingsTotal by-product losses were significant in green lentils when subject to scouring, which was altered by high moisture addition in yellow peas. The scouring pretreatment altered both the protein digestibility and amino acid scores of green lentils, which translated to improved protein quality in all streams, but significantly in the break flour stream. Yellow peas similarly demonstrated significant improvements in protein quality from scouring, as a result of altered amino acid scores.ConclusionThe addition of a scouring procedure can improve the protein quality of yellow peas and green lentils.Significance and NoveltyPulse milling procedures are rarely evaluated for optimization of protein quality. This research establishes milling protocols that may be used to enhance the protein quality of yellow peas and green lentils.