Effects of baking parameters on the white layer cake quality by combined use of conventional and microwave ovens

The effects of combined conventional and microwave oven baked white layer cake characteristics were studied. Two types of commercially milled wheat flour, white (A) and whole wheat (B), were used. The modified white layer cake making method was used for conducting the cake baking trials. The conventional baking times (8 or 11 min), microwave power (400 or 600 W) and microwave baking time (30, 40, or 50 s) were chosen as baking parameters. Conventional baking was applied to form the cake crust before baking with the microwave oven used to form the crumb of the cakes. The performance of combination baking was compared with the performance of conventional baking. The volume, bake loss, internal factors, and crust color of cakes were evaluated as quality characteristics. The bake losses of cakes using the combination of short oven times and low microwave power for selected microwave times were smaller than the bake losses of the control cakes for both flours. Long oven times and low microwave power increased the specific volume of cakes. Cakes baked from flours A and B exhibited similar internal properties. Oven time significantly affected the crust color of cakes made with flour A. The crust color of cakes made with flour B was similar to the crust color of control cakes. Using a combination of conventional and microwave baking produces cakes with qualities equivalent to the qualities of cakes produced with conventional baking.