The influence of water insoluble date fiber addition, to standard flour was studied through theological tests at small and large deformations and at different levels of fiber incorporation (1-10 g/100 g). The added DF increased the water absorption of the dough. An increase in mixing time and stability were recorded upon addition of DF (<= 5 g/100 g), and the extensibility decreased at similar condition. The elastic modulus, G' of the blended doughs increased with fiber concentration in the frequency range of 0.1-10 Hz, and the dough exhibited predominating solid-like behavior. The difference in microstructure between control and fiber incorporated dough samples were characterized by a plot of G' vs. G ''. During non-isothermal heating of doughs from 30 to 95 degrees C at a heating rate of 2.5 degrees C/min, the G' achieved its peak value (T-G'max) at a temperature representing the peak gelatinization temperature (T-p). Addition of DF did not significantly affect the T-p of the dough. The dough gelatinization kinetics was described by two rate equations corresponding to upward and downward of gelatinization curve. The upward and downward curves fitted the first-order and the second-order reaction kinetics, respectively. The gelatinization process activation energies ranged between 129 and 194 kJ mol(-1). (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.