Cold-water soluble extruded starch product

A process for preparing a solution of an extruded starch product, comprising:

• providing an extruded starch product, said product having been prepared by a process comprising:
• providing a hydroxyalkyl starch, said starch being derivatized with a hydroxyalkyl substituent having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and
• extruding said starch in an extruder, said extruder having a barrel, a die, and at least one rotating shaft, said barrel having at least first and second zones, said first zone being upstream from said second zone, the temperature in said first zone being insufficient to gelatinize said starch and the temperature in said second zone being sufficient to gelatinize said starch, said starch being extruded in the presence of total moisture in said barrel no greater than about 25% by weight of said starch, said process including the step of controlling the rotational speed of said shaft to impart a specific mechanical energy to said starch sufficient to result in a soluble extruded starch product that is capable of extrusion through said die at said rotational speed, wherein the rotational speed of the shaft is about 125 rpm to about 400 rpm;
• and mixing said extruded starch product with water.

A process for preparing a seasoning adherence solution, comprising:

• mixing water, an extruded starch product, and a seasoning to form a seasoning adherence solution, said extruded starch product having been formed by a process comprising:
• providing a hydroxyalkyl starch, said starch being derivatized with a hydroxyalkyl substituent having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and
• extruding said starch in an extruder, said extruder having a barrel, a die, and at least one rotating shaft, said barrel having at least first and second zones, said first zone being upstream from said second zone, the temperature in said first zone being insufficient to gelatinize said starch and the temperature in said second zone being sufficient to gelatinize said starch, said starch being extruded in the presence of total moisture in said barrel no greater than about 25% by weight of said starch, said process including the step of controlling the rotational speed of said shaft to impart a specific mechanical energy to said starch sufficient to result in a soluble extruded starch product that is capable of extrusion through said die at said rotational speed, wherein the rotational speed of the shaft is about 125 rpm to about 400 rpm.