Section 3: Wheat and

Milling Tests
Moisture Content........................................................................................................30
Ash Content...............................................................................................................31
Protein Content..........................................................................................................32
Falling Number..........................................................................................................33
Thousand Kernel Weight..............................................................................................34
Sedimentation............................................................................................................35
Deoxynivalenol (DON) Lateral Flow Strip................................................................36
Single Kernel Characterization System (SKCS).............................................................37
Laboratory Milling.....................................................................................................38
Simplified Milling Process Diagram.............................................................................40

Moisture Content
Method

1. A small sample of flour or ground wheat (2 to 3 grams)

is weighed and placed in a moisture dish.
2. The sample is heated at 130 degrees Celsius in an air
oven for 1 hour.
3. The sample is cooled to room temperature and the
residue is weighed.

Results

Moisture content is determined by heating a flour or

ground wheat sample in an air oven and comparing the
weight of the sample before and after heating.

The amount of weight loss is the moisture content.

Moisture content results are expressed as a percentage.

An example of a wheat moisture content is 12 percent.

Sample dishes in moisture oven.

rioration during storage. Wheat or flour with low moisture
content is more stable during storage.

Why is this important?

Moisture content can be an indicator of profitability in

milling. Flour is sold by weight, grain is bought by weight,
and water is added to reach the standard moisture level
before milling. The more water added, the more weight
and profitability gained from the wheat. Wheat with too
low moisture, however, may require special equipment or
processes before milling to reach the standard moisture level.

Moisture is also an indicator of grain storability. Wheat or

flour with high moisture content (greater than 14.5 percent)
attracts mold, bacteria, and insects, all of which cause dete-

Other methods of determining moisture content are used in

the industry. For example, Federal Grain Inspection Service
(FGIS) uses the GAC 2100 to measure moisture content of
whole wheat kernels.

Determining moisture content is an essential first step in

analyzing wheat or flour quality since this data is used for
other tests. Flour millers adjust the moisture in wheat to a
standard level before milling. Moisture content of 14 percent
is commonly used as a conversion factor for other tests in
which the results are affected by moisture content.

Adapted from Method 44-15A, Approved Methods of the American Association of

Cereal Chemists, 10th Edition. 2000. St. Paul, MN.

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Low temperature heating

Measures moisture content

Wheat and Flour Testing Methods: A Guide to Understanding Wheat and Flour Quality: Version 2

Ash Content
Method

1. A sample of flour or ground wheat (3 to 5 grams) is

weighed and placed in an ash cup.
2. The sample is heated at 585 degrees Celsius in an ash
oven until its weight is stable (usually overnight).
3. The residue is cooled to room temperature and then
weighed.

Results

Ash content is determined by high temperature incineration in an electric muffle furnace.

When a sample is incinerated in an ash oven, the high

temperature drives out the moisture and burns away all
the organic materials (starch, protein, and oil), leaving
only the ash. The residue (ash) is composed of the noncombustible, inorganic minerals that are concentrated in
the bran layer.

Ash content results for wheat or flour ash are expressed

as a percentage of the initial sample weight; for example,
wheat ash of 1.58 percent or flour ash of 0.52 percent.
Wheat or flour ash is usually expressed on a common
moisture basis of 14 percent.

Why is this important?

The ash content in wheat and flour has significance for

milling. Millers need to know the overall mineral content of
the wheat to achieve desired or specified ash levels in flour.
Since ash is primarily concentrated in the bran, ash content
in flour is an indication of the yield that can be expected
during milling. Ash content also indicates milling performance by indirectly revealing the amount of bran contamination in flour. Ash in flour can affect color, imparting a darker
color to finished products. Some specialty products requiring

Ash crucibles and furnace.

particularly white flour call for low ash content while other
products, such as whole wheat flour, have a high ash content.
Adapted from Method 08-01, Approved Methods of the American Association of
Cereal Chemists, 10th Edition. 2000. St. Paul, MN.

High temperature incineration

Measures mineral (ash) content

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Protein Content
Combustion Nitrogen Analyses (CNA) is one of several
methods used to determine protein content in flour or
wheat.

Method

1. A sample of flour or ground wheat (0.15 to 0.20 grams)

is weighed and placed into a CNA protein analyzer.
2. This process is fully automated and begins by dropping the sample into a hot oven where it is burned at
952degrees Celsius.
3. The amount of nitrogen gas released during burning
is measured and a formula is applied to convert this
measurement to protein content in the sample.

Results

Protein content is determined through high temperature

combustion in a protein analyzer. Since protein is the
major wheat compound that contains nitrogen, the
protein content can be determined by measuring the
amount of nitrogen released during burning.

Protein content results are expressed as a percentage of

the total sample weight; for example, 10 percent protein
content on 12 percent moisture basis for wheat or 8.5
percent on 14 percent moisture basis for flour.

Why is this important?

Protein content is a key specification for wheat and flour

purchasers since it is related to many processing properties,
such as water absorption and gluten strength. Protein content
also can be related to finished-product attributes, such as
texture and appearance. Low protein content is desired
for crisp or tender products, such as snacks or cakes. High
protein content is desired for products with chewy texture,
such as pan bread and hearth bread.
Bakers use protein content results to anticipate water absorption and dough development time for processes and products, because higher protein content usually requires more
water and a longer mixing time to achieve optimum dough
consistency.

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Combustion Nitrogen Analysis machine.

Combustion Nitrogen Analysis (CNA) is often used to
develop calibrations for other protein methods, such as Near
Infrared Transmittance (NIRT) or Near Infrared Reflectance
(NIRR).
Adapted from Method 46-30, Approved Methods of the American Association of
Cereal Chemists, 10th Edition. 2000. St. Paul, MN.

High temperature combustion

Measures protein content

Wheat and Flour Testing Methods: A Guide to Understanding Wheat and Flour Quality: Version 2

Falling Number
Method

1. A 7-gram sample of ground wheat or flour is weighed

and combined with 25 milliliter of distilled water in a
glass falling number tube with a stirrer and shaken to
form a slurry.
2. As the slurry is heated in a boiling water bath at
100degrees Celsius and stirred constantly, the starch
gelatinizes and forms a thick paste.
3. The time it takes the stirrer to drop through the paste is
recorded as the falling number value.

Results

The falling number instrument analyzes viscosity by

measuring the resistance of a flour-and-water paste to a
falling stirrer.

Falling number results are recorded as an index of

enzyme activity in a wheat or flour sample and the
results are expressed in time as seconds.

A high falling number (for example, above 300 seconds)

indicates minimal enzyme activity and sound quality
wheat or flour.

A low falling number (for example, below 250 seconds)

indicates substantial enzyme activity and sproutdamaged wheat or flour.

Why is this important?

The level of enzyme activity measured by the falling number

test affects product quality. Yeast in bread dough, for
example, requires sugars to develop properly and therefore
needs some level of enzyme activity in the dough. Too much
enzyme activity, however, means that too much sugar and too
little starch are present. Since starch provides the supporting
structure of bread, too much activity results in sticky dough
during processing and poor texture in the finished product. If
the falling number is too high, enzymes can be added to the

Falling number apparatus.

flour in various ways to compensate. If the falling number
is too low, enzymes cannot be removed from the flour or
wheat, which results in a serious problem that makes the
flour unusable.
Adapted from Method 56-81B, Approved Methods of the American Association of
Cereal Chemists, 10th Edition. 2000, St. Paul, MN.

Viscosity analysis

Measures the effects of sprout

damage

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Thousand Kernel Weight

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Wheat and Flour Testing Methods: A Guide to Understanding Wheat and Flour Quality: Version 2

Sedimentation
Method

1. A small sample of flour or ground wheat (3.2 grams)

is weighed and placed in 100-milliliter glass-stoppered
graduated cylinder.
2. Water (50 milliliter) is added to the cylinder and mixed
for 5 minutes.
3. Lactic acid solution is added to the cylinder and mixed
for 5 minutes.
4. The cylinder is removed from the mixer and kept in
upright position for 5 minutes.
5. The sedimentation volume is recorded.

Results

The sedimentation test is conducted by holding the

ground wheat or flour sample in an acid solution.

During the sedimentation test gluten proteins of ground

wheat or flour swells and precipitate as a sediment.

Sedimentation values can be in the range of 20 or less for

low-protein wheat with weak gluten to as high as 70 or
more for high-protein wheat with strong gluten.

Why is this important?

The sedimentation test provides information on the

protein quantity and the quality of ground wheat
and flour samples. Positive correlations were observed
between sedimentation volume and gluten strength or
loaf volume attributes. The sedimentation test is used as
a screening tool in wheat breeding as well as in milling
applications.

Sedimentation cylinders.

Adapted from Method 56-61A, Approved Methods of the American Association of

Cereal Chemists, 10th Edition. 2000. St. Paul, MN.

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Deoxynivalenol (DON) Lateral Flow Strip

Method

Levels of deoxynivalenol (DON), also referred to as

vomitoxin, are measured in the marketing channels with
commercially available test kits. Test kits are based on immunochemical technology. GIPSA tests and approves mycotoxin
test kits, including DON, for use in the U.S. official inspection system. These kits must meet GIPSA accuracy and
precision requirements when compared to HPLC reference
methods in order to be approved.

General

1. Prepare sample by weighing a portion sample of ground

wheat and mixing the ground wheat sample with
distilled water and shake.
2. Dilute the mixture as directed by the manufacturers
directions
3. Place test strip in incubator, peel back the tape, and add
a portion of the diluted solution.
4. Close the lid of the incubator and wait.
5. Evaluate the results according to the manufacturers
directions.

Results

The lateral flow strips used in test kits provide a yes or

no answer to whether the sample tested contains DON
above a certain amount.

Usually within 5 to 15 minutes the results can be read.

All tests include an internal procedural control line that

is used to validate the test result.

The appearance of two lines indicates a positive result,

while a negative test produces only one line.

DON lateral test strips and HPLC vials.

Why is this important?

DON is a toxin produced by fusarium fungi. DON occurs

in feed grains when grown under certain climatic conditions.
Illnesses have been observed in livestock that have consumed
feed grains containing high levels of DON concentrations.

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Quick test

Detects levels of vomitoxin

Wheat and Flour Testing Methods: A Guide to Understanding Wheat and Flour Quality: Version 2

SingleKernel Characterization System (SKCS)

Method

1. A sample of wheat kernels (12 to 16 grams) is prepared

by removing broken kernels, weed seeds, and other
foreign material.
2. The sample is poured into the access hopper of the
single-kernel characterization system instrument.
3. The SKCS instrument analyzes 300 kernels individually
and records the results on a computer graph.

Results

Wheat kernel characteristics are analyzed for: kernel

weight by load cell, kernel diameter and moisture
content by electrical current, and kernel hardness by
pressure force.

Averages and standard deviations of these parameters

are reported as SKCS results in terms of values: kernel
weight is expressed in milligrams (mg); kernel diameter
is expressed in millimeters (mm); moisture content
is expressed as a percentage; and kernel hardness is
expressed as an index of 20 to 120.

Why is this important?

The single-kernel characterization system test evaluates wheat

kernel texture characteristics by measuring the weight, electrical current, and force needed to crush the kernels. Kernel
characteristics are related to important milling properties,
such as conditioning (tempering), roll gap settings, and flour
starch damage content.

SKCS analyzer.

Adapted from Method 55-31, Approved Methods of the American Association of

Cereal Chemists, 10th Edition. 2000. St. Paul, MN.

Kernel analysis

Measures kernel characteristics

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Laboratory Wheat Milling

Method

1. A sample of wheat is cleaned and the moisture content is

determined.
2. Water is added to condition (temper) the wheat overnight prior to milling. Soft wheat requires less water and
less time than hard wheat.
3. The tempered wheat sample is run through the mill the
following day.
4. The mill fractions, such as flour streams, bran, and
shorts, are weighed and recorded.

Results

Wheat samples are milled to evaluate wheat milling

properties, including flour extraction and the amount
of non-flour components produced, such as bran and
shorts.

Laboratory flour mill results are generally expressed as

the weight of flour, bran, and shorts. Often, flour extraction is reported as a percentage of flour compared to the
total output of other mill products; however extraction
could be reported as the percentage of flour from the
sample of wheat milled.

Flour produced can be used for other tests.

Why is this important?

Laboratory flour milling tests indicate milling properties

on small wheat samples. Commercial flour mills can use
this information to adjust mill settings and optimize flour
extraction.
Small samples of wheat can be milled on a number of
different laboratory mills to produce flour. This flour is used
to evaluate properties, such as ash and protein content, and
in gluten strength tests, such as the farinograph. The most
common laboratory mills are the Brabender Quadramat
Flour Mills and the Buhler Laboratory Flour Mill.
The Brabender Quadramat is
available in two models, the
Quad Jr. and the Quad Sr. Both
mills use a series of three rolls
to grind the wheat. The main
difference between the two
models is the Quad Jr. is a single
pass machine and the Quad Sr.
has a double pass grinding flow.

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Buhler MLU-202 laboratory mill.

Both models are best used for as micro-milling or the milling
of very small samples.
Micro-milling is important for wheat breeding programs.
Early generation wheat varieties need to be tested for milling
and baking qualities, but very small samples are available for
testing. Samples as small as 50 grams can be processed using
either of the Quadrumat milling
systems.

Laboratory-scale flour mill

Determines flour yield and

makes flour for other tests

The normal sample size is 100

grams to produce enough flour
for further analysis.
The Buhler Laboratory Flour
Mill is the most common
laboratory mill used by milling
companies and grain quality

Wheat and Flour Testing Methods: A Guide to Understanding Wheat and Flour Quality: Version 2

laboratories to evaluate commercial wheat samples. The

Buhler Laboratory mill has six grinding passages, three
fluted roll break passages and three smooth roll reduction passages. This mill operates at about 125 grams per
minutes and can handle much larger samples, commonly
up to five kilograms. The larger sample size produces
sufficient flour to run additional flour functionality tests
such as the farinograph and alveograph and product test
baking.
Adapted from Methods 26-21A, 26-30A, 26-31, 26-41, Approved Methods of
the American Association of Cereal Chemists, 10th Edition. 2000. St. Paul,
MN.

Brabender Qudramat Sr. laboratory mill.

Brabender Quadramat Jr. laboratory mill.

Brabender Qudramat Sr. grinding rolls.

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Simplified Milling Process Diagram

It starts here . . .
Barge

Rail

Magnetic
Separator

Iron or steel
articles are
removed.

Elevator

Storage and
care of wheat.

Washer-Stoner

High speed rotors

circulate wheat
and water. Stones
are removed.

Truck
Product Control

This flow diagram

is greatly simplified.The sequence,
number, and
complexity of
operations vary
in different mills.

Chemists inspect
and classify
wheat. Blending
is often done at
this point.

Tempering

Separator

Reciprocating
screens remove
stones, sticks, and
other
coarse or fine
materials.

Tempering Bins

Water toughens
outer bran coats
for easier separation, softening
or mellowing
endosperm.
Blending

Types of wheat are

blended to make
specific flours.

Aspirator

Air currents
remove lighter
impurities.

Entoleter

Impact machine
breaks and
removes unsound
wheat.

Disc Separator

Barley, oats,
cockle, and other
foreign materials
are removed.

Grinding Bin

Scourer

Beaters in screen
cylinder scour off
impurities and
roughage.

First Break

Corrugated rolls
break wheat into
coarse particles.

Courtesy of Wheat Foods Council, 10841 S. Crossroads Drive, Suite 105, Parker, Colorado 80138.

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Wheat and Flour Testing Methods: A Guide to Understanding Wheat and Flour Quality: Version 2

to a series of purifiers,
reducing rolls, and sifters.
Sifter

Purifier

Broken wheat is
sifted through successive screens of
increasing fineness.
Reducing
Rolls

Purifier

Air currents and

sieves separate bran
and classify particles
(or middlings).

Bran

Sifter

Bran and Shorts

Reducing
Rolls

Shorts

Smooth
rolls reduce
middlings
into flour.

Purifier

Sifter

Clear Flour
Germ Rolls

A series of purifiers,
reducing rolls, and
sifters repeat the
process.

Sifter
Germ
Flour

Bleaching

Flour is
matured
and color
is
neutralized.
Bulk Storage

Enriching

Thiamine,
niacin,
riboflavin,
and iron
are added.

Patent Flour
Bulk Deliveries

To bakeries . . .

by
truck

by
rail

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