Extruded snacks are snacks made from a mix of ingredients that are then forced through a machine called an extruder, which shapes and cooks the snack. These snacks can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as puffs, sticks, and twists.
Waxy tapioca starch can be used in the production of extruded snacks to provide various benefits. It can act as a binding agent to help hold the snack together and improve its texture. It can also enhance the moisture retention and improve the freeze-thaw stability of the snack. Additionally, waxy tapioca starch can help improve the expansion of the snack, resulting in a puffy or crunchy texture. Finally, it is a clean label ingredient that can be used to replace other ingredients that consumers may want to avoid, such as modified starches or hydrocolloids.
Waxy tapioca starch can provide several benefits for extruded snacks, including:
- Process tolerance: Waxy tapioca starch has good process tolerance, making it easy to use in extruded snack production.
- Puffy or crunchy texture: Waxy tapioca starch can help create a desirable texture in extruded snacks, either puffy or crunchy depending on the desired outcome.
- Binding power: The starch can act as a binder, helping to hold the snack together during processing and packaging.
- Improve expansion: Waxy tapioca starch can improve the expansion of extruded snacks, resulting in a lighter and more voluminous product.
- Texturizer: The starch can improve the overall texture of the snack, resulting in a more enjoyable eating experience.
- Enhance moisture retention: Waxy tapioca starch can help to retain moisture in the extruded snack, preventing it from becoming dry and unappetizing.
- Improve freeze-thaw stability: The starch can improve the freeze-thaw stability of extruded snacks, making them less likely to degrade or lose quality during freezing and thawing.
- Clean label: Waxy tapioca starch is a natural ingredient that can be used in clean label snack formulations, appealing to consumers who are looking for simpler and more natural products.