Effects of Extrusion Process Variables on Quality Properties of Wheat-Ginseng Extrudates

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of extrusion process variables (feed moisture, screw speed, and barrel temperature) on the physical [expansion ratio, water absorption index (WAI), and water solubility index (WSI)], pasting, and thermal properties of wheat-ginseng extrudates (WGE). A wheat flour-ginseng powder (GP) blend (10% GP, w/w) was extruded in a twin-screw extruder (L/D ratio of 25:1) with full factorial combinations of feed moisture (25, 30, and 35%), screw speed (200 and 300 rpm), and zone 5 barrel temperature (110, 120, 130, and 140°C). The expansion ratios of WGE were significantly increased with decreasing feed moisture, decreasing screw speed, and increasing barrel temperature. Increasing feed moisture significantly increased WAI values of WGE and significantly decreased WSI values of WGE. However, an increase in either screw speed or barrel temperature caused a significant decrease in WAI values of WGE and a significant increase in WSI values of WGE. Rapid visco analyzer peak viscosity values of WGE were significantly affected by changes in extrusion process variables studied, indicating that the degree of starch degradation and/or gelatinization in WGE is a very important factor associated with their peak viscosity. WAI values of WGE were positively correlated (r = 0.88, p ≤ 0.001) with peak viscosity values of WGE samples, whereas WSI values of WGE samples were negatively correlated (r = 0.82, p ≤ 0.001). Increasing feed moisture resulted in an increase in values of transition peak temperature (Tp) of WGE, whereas increasing screw speed and barrel temperature each led to a decrease in Tp values of WGE, determined by differential scanning calorimetry.