The mixture of wheat with soybean represents an important calorie-protein source with good protein quality. In spite of this, the use of soybeans as an ingredient has been limited by their beany flavor, which is improved by the extrusion process. Effects of mixture moisture, Barrel Temperature (BT) and Screw-Speed (SS, Nº 5) on Expansion Index (EI), Water Solubility Index (WSI) and sensory characteristics of pellets produced with a wheat-soybean (90:10) mixture were studied, in order to optimize this process for obtaining fried pellets with better sensory qualities. Raw mixed flour was extruded at two moisture contents (32 and 35%), four BT (60 to 90 °C) and four SS (60 to 150 rpm), totalizing 32 treatments. The fried pellets, prepared with the mixed flour with 32% moisture and extruded at 60 rpm and 80 °C, presented the greatest EI and the best sensory qualities (appearance, flavor and texture), being the most preferred by the untrained consumer-type panelists, both with bacon flavor, as with cheese flavor.
extrusion-cooked product; wheat-soybean flour; 3rd generation snack
