US 5,747,092 A · Production of crispy wheat-based snacks having surface bubbles

Abstract

Baked, wheat-based, chip-like snacks having a plurality of surface bubbles comprising air pockets extending both above and below the substantially unleavened, adjacent portions of the snack are obtained with a pregelatinized waxy starch, pregelatinized potato starch, and optional modified potato starch. The pregelatinized potato starch produces a crisp, crunchy texture in the baked snack. The pregelatinized waxy starch is at least substantially uniformly hydrated prior to baking for producing bubbles during baking and for retaining the bubbles. The pregelatinized potato starch is at least substantially uniformly hydrated prior to baking for controlling bubbling caused by the pregelatinized waxy starch and for controlling texture of the bubbled and unbubbled portions of the snack chips. Use of the gluten-containing wheat flour and bubble-forming amounts of the pregelatinized waxy starch provides for the production of a cohesive, non-sticky, extensible, continuously machinable dough. A modified potato starch which is activated during baking may be used to enhance surface bubbling and crispiness of the bubbled portions and unbubbled portions. The pregelatinized waxy maize starch may be used in an amount of from about 3% by weight to about 20% by weight, and the pregelatinized potato starch may be used in an amount of from about 1.5% by weight to about 20% by weight, each based upon the weight of the wheat flour. The weight ratio of the amount of the pregelatinized waxy starch to the total amount of the potato starches may be from about 0.45:1 to about 1:1. Non-fermented and fermented reduced fat, low-fat, and no-fat baked products, as well as full-fatted non-fermented and fermented baked products, may be produced with a bubbled surface, and a crispy, crunchy, non-mealy, chip-like texture, but with a wheat cracker flavor.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method for the production of a baked, wheat-based snack having surface bubbles and a crispy texture comprising:

a) admixing wheat flour, a pregelatinized waxy maize starch in an amount of from about 3% by weight to about 20% by weight, based upon the weight of the wheat flour, a pregelatinized potato starch in an amount of from about 1.5% by weight to about 20% by weight, based upon the weight of the wheat flour, from 0% by weight to about 20% by weight of a modified potato starch, based upon the weight of the wheat flour, and water to hydrate said starches and to form a machinable dough, wherein the water content of said dough is from about 20% by weight to about 50% by weight, based upon the weight of the dough,
b) sheeting the dough,
c) forming the dough into pieces, and
d) baking the pieces to produce a plurality of surface bubbles in the baked pieces, said bubbles comprising air pockets and extending both above and below adjacent, generally flat, crispy, substantially unleavened areas of the baked pieces.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Production of crispy wheat-based snacks having surface bubbles

Life of this patent

Production of crispy wheat-based snacks having surface bubbles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32