Grain-based infant cereal and method of making same

A process for preparing a dry, gelatinized cereal product capable of instant rehydration, the process comprising:

• preparing a slurry comprising a component selected from a group consisting of a flour, a starch, and any combination thereof, and water with the slurry having a solid content of about 16% to about 27% by weight;
• heating the slurry to a temperature of about 85° C. to about 110° C. until all of the flour/starch has completely gelatinized, thereby providing a gelatinized slurry;
• spraying the gelatinized slurry on a heated conveyer;
• cooking and drying the gelatinized slurry in a single step on the heated conveyer to obtain flakes;
• removing the flakes from the heated conveyer to obtain collected flakes;
• and
• milling the collected flakes to obtain the dry, gelatinized cereal product having a particle size of 250 mm or a particle size of less than 250 mm and a bulk density of about 0.39 to about 0.48 g/cm3, and
• wherein the slurry has a first viscosity of less than about 40 cPs.