This study aims to make extruded rice snack with high quality in texture and nutrition by adding mealworm. Addition of the mealworm has the merit to fill in high-quality protein and unsaturated fatty acids which are insufficient in rice. Thus, the physicochemical properties were investigated through the process of extrusion cooking. As the extrusion process varied, the die temperatures were set to 120oC and 130oC. Also, the moisture contents were adjusted to 30% and 35%. The specific length, the expansion ratio, and the water absorption index increased as the added content of mealworm became higher. On the contrary, the density, the breaking strength, the apparent elastic modulus, and the water solubility index decreased. As mealworm and moisture content increased, DPPH radical scavenging activity significantly increased but the rancidity decreased. As a result, the addition of mealworm to the extruded rice snack was effective in improving texture, nutrition, and antioxidation.

• Sung Young Cho(Department of Food Science and Technology, Kongju National University)
• Apapan Chatpaisarn(Department of Food Science and Technology, Kongju National University)
• Gi Hyung Ryu(Department of Food Science and Technology, Kongju National University) Corresponding author