and that increasing particle size decreased the SME input. Similar results were also reported by Altan et al. (2009) who showed the reduction in SME during extrusion of barley flour when compared to that of barley grits attribut- ing the influence of particle size on melt viscosity during the process. Large particles have less contact area both in relation to particle to particle and to the barrel and, consequently, are less affected by barrel temperature than finer particles as reported by Konstance and Onwulata (2006) and Desrumaux et al. (1998). The finer particles would heat more rapidly and reach the melt