Effect of the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) inclusion and process temperature on extrudate snack properties

Abstract

The demand for healthy, satiating, and convenient products is growing, with ready-to-eat expanded snacks being the preferred. These are produced made by extrusion, which is a versatile and efficient technology, with an immense potential to develop new food products. In addition to satisfy consumer requests, it is interesting to add alternative protein sources to these products, such as insects that have nutritional benefits and ecological advantages. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of extrusion temperature and enrichment with house cricket (Acheta domesticus) on properties of extruded snacks. Extrudates were produced with a single-screw extruder at two barrel temperatures (165 and 175 °C), formulated with corn flour and house cricket powder in mass ratios, 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, and 85:15. Water content, water activity, expansion, porosity, water absorption, water solubility indices; swelling index and hygroscopicity; colour, texture, protein content, in vitro digestibility, and protein bioaccessibility were measured. The results suggest that incorporating edible insects in extruded snacks can be a good alternative to the snacks on the market, since they maintain the appropriate physicochemical characteristics, especially when formulated at low temperatures. Further, they improve the protein content, with the recommended percentage use of 5 and 10% of house cricket, for the formulation of snacks with extrusion at 165 °C.