ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the ingredients and process conditions used to manufacture wheat-based snacks including toasted bread crisps, extruded crisp breads, pita chips, crackers, or biscuits and pretzels. The formulations and functionalities of the various ingredients such as wheat flour, yeast, sugar, salt, water, shortening, lard, malt, vital gluten, dough conditioners, oxidation agents, mold inhibitors, leavening agents, and yeast food are reviewed for each wheat-based snack. Undoubtedly, the most important ingredient is wheat flour, which allows the production of cohesive doughs due to its functional gluten. Processing platforms including sheeting, baking, drying, and extrusion are described in detail including unit operations, flowcharts, and processing issues such as checking or stress cracks. Trends in wheat production and wheat-based snack consumption are also reviewed.
