Coating of Puffed Wheat by a Tumbling Method a Fluidized Bed Technique

Puffed wheat, traditionally consumed as a ready-to-eat breakfast cereal, is normally covered with sweet coatings. To make it more appealing to different tastes and consumers, the coating may also have colored ingredients added. Due to the rugged surface of puffed wheat, colored coats do not totally cover the particulate, causing problems of appearance that may affect overall quality. There is a need to develop uniform coats in order to improve physical properties, such as color and texture. Puffed wheat was coated with sweetened chocolate syrups by tumbling and a fluidized bed. Different proportions of sugar, cocoa, and starch were used to develop the cover and obtain an optimum formulation. The coated wheat was characterized by instrumental techniques. The developed product using the fluidized bed technique presented a firmer consistency and a more uniform color than the tumbling-coated and the commercial wheat.