Effect of Water Addition on the Microstructure, Lipid Incorporation, and Lipid Oxidation of Corn Extrudates

Use of K2CO3 to Obtain Products from Starch-Oil Mixtures by Extrusion

Mixtures of potato starch with oils (rapeseed and sunflower) were extruded. To improve the complexation of edible oils, a catalyst was added in amounts of 3 g, 6 g, and 9 g per 100 g of sample. The aim was to obtain potato starch extrudates with a high degree of complexation and edible oils during physical modification (extrusion) with the innovative use of K2CO3 as a catalyst. Selected functional properties (water solubility index and fat absorption index) and technological properties of the obtained extrudates (radial expansion index); color in the L*, a*, and b* systems, and the specific surface area was determined from the water vapor adsorption isotherm (SBET). The fat content was determined as external, internal, or bound, and complexed by amylose to assess the degree and manner of fat complexation during extrusion. Iodine-binding capacity and the complexing index were determined to confirm the formation of amylose-lipid complexes. The incorporation of edible oils resulted in a decrease in the radial expansion index and water solubility index compared to control samples. The extrudates were dark orange. Extrudates obtained at the temperature profile L: 80/80/80/60/60/50 °C, depending on the cooking oil, complexed from 48-79% of the introduced rapeseed oil and from 36-40% of the sunflower oil. The extrusion temperature profile (H: 100/100/100/75/75/60 °C) reduced the amount of bound lipid fractions. Using potassium carbonate in the extrusion of starch-lipid systems gives hope for further increasing the share of lipids in extruded mixtures.

Recent Progress on Improving the Quality of Bran-Enriched Extruded Snacks

The incorporation of milling by-products, in particular bran, into starch-based extruded snacks allows manufacturers to address two consumer demands at once, i.e., those for goods that are more sustainably produced and of higher nutritional value. However, the higher fiber content in bran than in refined cereal flours poses a limit to the amount that can be included without compromising the quality of extruded snacks, which crucially depends on expansion. Thus, several studies have focused on the effect of bran on the physicochemical characteristics of extruded snacks, leading to the need to review the recent findings in this area. Opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions of bran-enriched snacks are addressed, and several current knowledge gaps are highlighted. Specifically, the first part of the review presents the effects of extrusion cooking on bran's compositional aspects, focusing on structural changes and product quality. After summarizing the main quality traits of extruded snacks (e.g., expansion rate, bulk density, and textural attributes), the effects of bran enrichment on the physical and sensory characteristics of the final product are discussed. Finally, bran pre-treatments as well as processing optimization are discussed as approaches to improve the quality of bran-enriched snacks.