Sweet potato flour was processed using a single-screw extruder, with extrusion temperatures in zones 1 and 2 of 20ºC and 60ºC, respectively. The effect of flour moisture content (15, 18 and 21%), barrel temperature in zone 3 (100, 120 and 140ºC) and screw speed (180, 210 and 240 rpm) on extrudate attributes was investigated using response surface methodology. Moisture content and extrusion temperature had a significant (p<0.05) influence on extrudates expansion. The expansion ratio of the extrudates showed increasing values with temperature under conditions of low moisture content. The firmness of extrudates and also the water absorption index and water solubility index of the pre-gelatinized flours did not show significant regression models with the processing conditions. The flours color was influenced by the moisture content. The component L* showed increasing values and the parameter a* exhibited decreasing values with the increase of moisture content till 20-21%. The parameter b* and the difference of color between extrudated and non extrudated flours showed increasing values as the moisture decreased.
sweet potato; extrudates; expansion index; water absorption index; water solubility index
