As described by Rojas et al. (2000), wheat dough is a continuous
matrix with starch granules immersed in the developed gluten network.
The microstructure of the vacuum mixed HP and LP fresh
noodles (0.06 MPa, Fig. 3B and D) both presented a more continuous
and closed gluten network structure, as compared to the control
samples (0.00 MPa, Fig. 3A and C), inducing a membrane-like
structure with fewer hollows or ditches on the surface. The coarser
gluten fibrils indicated the formation of a stronger and more resistant
network. These changes in the microstructure of fresh noodles
may account for the improvement in cooking and textural attributes
as affected by vacuum mixing.