Potential development and utilization of sweet potato flour as a raw material for the food industry

Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is one type of tuber that has an important role in food diversification programs. Each 100g of sweet potato contains 27.9 g of carbohydrates, 7000 SI of vitamin A, 30 mg of vitamin C, 30 mg of mineral Ca and an energy value of 123 calories. Its carbohydrate content ranges from 64.83 to 66.90% which is a potential energy source to meet basic food needs other than rice. Sweet potato is considered as a raw material for the food industry, because it has good nutritional content, short plant life, and high production. Its vitamin B6 and folic acid is needed to optimize brain work, rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates but low in calories which is very good for diabetics. However, the soft texture of sweet potatoes and the high of its water content make sweet potatoes easy to damage due to mechanical influences. Processing into flour is one of the efforts to preserve sweet potatoes and increase their usefulness. Ingredients composition, drying method, use of chemicals, and steaming process are factors that can affect flour quality, especially its color and functional characteristics. Drying methods that can be used are spray drying, drum drying and oven dryer. The aim of this review is to explore the opportunities and potential of sweet potato flour (SPF) as an industrial raw material for processed food industries in Indonesia. The review method used is the reference collection method, which is taken from several research results related to SPF and its application to food products such as beverages, fructose syrup, noodles, flakes, cookies, ice cream, yogurt, jams, dyes, and others. Through the preservation of sweet potato into flour and its use as industrial raw material, it is hoped that it can increase the diversity of functional foods needed by the Indonesian community.