Pasta: Raw materials, processing and quality improvement

Abstract

Pasta is a ready to eat extruded product having higher nutritional properties. It is really suited for daily balance diet because of the higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acid. Mixing, extrusion, drying, cooling and packaging are the major steps used in the production of pasta. Pasta can be produced from different cereals like sorghum, maize, wheat, rice, oats and the addition of these cereals can change the textural, functional, physiochemical properties and microstructure of pasta. The yellow colour is the most acceptable range of pasta by customers. Pasta helps to Lower glycaemic index and type 2 diabetics and reduce abdominal obesity. Pasta is a nutritious food helps to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.This review paper provides an updated information about the different cereals used, fortification of pasta with different plant and animal sources, production technologies, effect of thermal treatments, extrusion conditions, microstructure, and colorimetry of pasta.