[Physico-chemical evaluation of products extruded with sorghum-corn-soybean blends]

Yellow corn grits (M), brown sorghum (SM), white sorghum (SB) and full fat soy flour (S) blends were extruded in an autogenous Brady Crop Cooker extruder at 195-200 degrees C and 11% moisture content. Binary blends (70:30) made up of M:S, SM:S and SB:S; and ternary blends (30:40:30) made up of SM:M:S and SB:M:S were extruded. Under these conditions, extrudates contained about 19% protein and 6% fat, which are within the specifications given for cereal/oil seed blends. Raw and extruded samples were analyzed for ES, WQI, WSI, MD and paste viscosity. All blends underwent modifications in the starch fraction at granular and molecular level. Brown sorghum extrudates presented higher degradation than those of white sorghum and corn:soy blends, although the last ones gave similar responses to analitical techniques. Extrudates greatly increased their ES, SWI and MD values, suggesting that degradation products, like dextrins, were present. Cooked paste low viscosities (50 degrees C) and micrographs support these findings. Because of their functional characteristics, extrudates could be used in beverages.