Soybean protein meat analogue extruded at relative wide moisture
range was a simple system to study the effect of process
parameters, especially moisture content on extrusion system
parameters and product properties. The results showed that moisture
content was a more important factor on system parameters
and product properties than cooking temperature. Increasing the
extrusion moisture could reduce dramatically the tensile strength,
hardness, chewiness and the degree of aggregation. The fibrous
structure was observed in the product extruded at 60% moisture
content. There are obvious correlations between system parameters
and product properties. Therefore, the properties of extrudate
could be controlled and monitored by means of process parameters
and system parameters, respectively. In order to explore the effect
of water in the extrusion process comprehensively, further studies
are needed to investigate the thermal properties, protein solubility
and protein structure etc. of the product.