DOUGH CONDITIONER
A general term used for additives that function to
help improve the quality of the finished product by altering the way
dough behaves. There are four main categories of dough conditioners: 1)
enzymes, 2) oxidizing agents, 3) reducing agents, and 4) emulsifiers.
Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions,
such as increasing the extraction of sugar from starch. Oxidizing
agents improve the dough strength by forming bonds between the protein
chains. Reducing agents weaken the protein by breaking bonds between
proteins during mixing, thereby reducing the mixing times and dough
elasticity Emulsifiers strengthen the dough or soften the crumb.