EXPANDED GLUTEN-FREE EXTRUDATES MADE FROM RICE GRITS AND BANDINHA (BEAN) FLOUR MIXES: MAIN QUALITY PROPERTIES

The effect of extrusion operating conditions on main quality properties of glutenfree expanded snack-type products, developed from rice grits and bandinha flour formulations, was studied. The protein content in the extrudate varied from 9.44 to 14.74 g/100 g for formulations containing 13 and 47% bandinha flour, respectively, processed at 85C and 15% feed moisture. Apparent density and the radial expansion index of the extrudate were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by bean flour content, moisture content, temperature and the interaction between moisture content x temperature. The most suitable extrusion conditions were 30 g/100 g bean flour content, 14 g/100 g moisture content and 80C die temperature, which resulted in a product with a high radial expansion index and crude protein of 9.5 and 13 g/100 g, respectively, and a low apparent density of 0.20 g/cm(3).