IntroductionThe traditional method of producing instant foods involves producing a gelatinised paste from the preferred grain flour and proceeding to dry it using a drum drier. This produced a flaked product, which can be used as is or ground and sieved to obtain the desired particle size. With the advent of extrusion cooking technology and diverse production processes associated with the technology, food products including instant foods from cereals were developed.ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study was to produce a nutritious and acceptable pearl millet instant beverage powder (PMIBP) using combination processing.MethodsThe effect of different processing methods (malting, extrusion, and a combination of both processes) on the nutritional, biochemical, and sensory characteristics of beverage powders and beverages made from two varieties of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) were evaluated.ResultsCombination processing led to a significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in total fat and total dietary fibre (TDF) (3.85 and 22.99 g/100 g, respectively) of AgriGreen (AgG) extruded malted pearl millet (EMPM) and extruded raw pearl millet–malted pearl millet mix (ERPMMPM). Combination processing also led to a decrease in the ash, total fat, TDF, Fe and Zn content (1.76, 3.48, 14.26 g/100 g, 7.78 and 4.74 mg/100 g, respectively) of Babala (Ba) EMPM and Ba ERPMMPM (1.88, 4.22, 21.71 g/100 g, 7.24 and 4.14 mg/100 g, respectively). Beverages of 10% total solids were prepared from the samples and offered to an untrained consumer panel. The beverages were rated on appearance, colour, aroma, flavour, texture and overall acceptability on a nine-point hedonic scale. In general, Ba raw pearl millet was rated 4 (like slightly), AgG malted pearl millet was rated 6 (dislike slightly), and all other pearl millet samples from both varieties were rated 5 (neither like nor dislike).ConclusionAlthough combination processing led to an increase in carbohydrates, Ca, energy, Fe content, and 12 of the 15 amino acids measured as well as protein and starch digestibility and no change in the other nutrients measured, this did not significantly impact on the acceptability of the beverages.

The objective of this experiment was to assess the effects of malting, extrusion and a combination of both processes on the physical and functional properties of the pearl millet flour (PMF) and pearl millet based instant beverage powder (PMIBP) produced. PMF and PMIBP were prepared by malting, extrusion and a combination of malting and extrusion cooking from two different varieties of pearl millet (Agrigreen (AgG) and Babala (Ba)). Malted pearl millets were produced by germinating at 30°C and 98% RH for 36 h, kilned at 50°C for 48 h then cooled to room temperature, ground and stored in a chiller at 5°C until used. Extrusion was carried out using a corotating twin-screw extruder under different parameters to obtain the pearl millet instant beverage powder. The different processes significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected the colour (L, a & b) of AgG and Ba. Malting and extrusion significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced the peak viscosity of the starches from the raw pearl millet of both varieties of pearl millet as measured by rapid visco analyser (RVA). This can be considered as advantageous with respect to producing an instant beverage powder with a high nutrient content.