Nabisco, Inc.

Nabisco Technology Company

Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.

Theresa E Dzurenko

Louise Slade

Harry Levine

Mark J Moisey

Julia M Carey

Kevin McHugh

James M Manns

Richard D Fazzolare

Ellen L Zimmerman

Martha Y Wang

Kevin Addesso

James Ievolella

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.

Crispy wheat-based snacks having surface bubbles

Production of crispy wheat-based snacks having surface bubbles

A chip-like snack is prepared by admixing wheat flour, a no or low gluten content starchy material, e.g. potato starch, pregelatinized waxy starch and water to form a dough. The dough is then sheeted and cut into pieces and the pieces are heated to reduce their moisture content to obtain chip-like products having a blistered appearance and a crisp texture.

Production of chip-like starch based snacks

A pregelatinized waxy starch provides for the production of cohesive, continuously machineable doughs from starchy materials or ingredients having starch with no- or low-gluten contents. The pregelatinized waxy starch is admixed with only a portion of the at least one starchy material and only a portion of the water needed to form a machineable dough. This mixing procedure results in uniform hydration of the pregelatinized waxy starch and avoids tearing of the dough sheet during machining. The moisture content of the dough sheets is reduced substantially from above about 25% by weight by heating in air, preferably in a gas-fired oven, to obtain chip-like snacks, such as potato chips and corn chips, having a low oil content, a blistered appearance, and a crisp texture.

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Parsippany, NJ, United States of America

Theresa E Dzurenko