Breakfast cereals like granola and muesli are the most popular options for breakfast. They are rich in iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B6 and are high in fiber and minerals. Food processing companies use oats, corn, rye, and many other whole grains as the primary ingredient in making cereals. Apart from oats, many other ingredients are used in cereal making to give them a better taste, volume, and higher amounts of energy.
Let’s dive into the ingredient list of cereals.
1. Multigrain
Multigrains such as oats, wheat, corn grits, rice, rolled oats, and rolled barley are added into a fine mixture.
2. Dry fruits
Dry fruits such as almonds and raisins are added to give flavor and taste to the cereals while providing nutritional value.
3. Sugar
For most sugar-coated cereals, such as frosted flakes, liquid or inverted sugar is added to give them a sweet taste and maintain a crunchy texture. Sugar also acts as a humectant to extend the product’s shelf life.
4. Cereal extract
Cereal extracts are the natural solids that come from cereals. They act as great aroma and flavor enhancers as well as coloring agents.
5. Wheat bran
Wheat bran is a source of fiber and is added to the cereals to give a sweet, nutty flavor. It is also used to add texture and give a full-bodied taste to cereals and other baked goods.
6. Iodized salt
Iodized salt is added to cereals to enhance taste and texture. The salt and sugar levels are regularly monitored in cereals.
7. Vitamins & Minerals
Many vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, B1, K, E, B2, B5, B6, B3, and B9 are added to cereals to help improve nutritional intake.
8. Antioxidants
Natural antioxidants such as carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, inositols, folates, melatonin, and microelements are added to the cereals to prevent food spoilage. Antioxidants also enhance food quality, prevent deterioration, and prevent foods from producing toxic compounds.
9. Added flavors
Some cereals contain artificial flavors to give them a fresh taste. Many kinds of cereal include vanilla flavor, while most cereal companies use basic ingredients such as cream flavor, cocoa flavor, and even cinnamon flavors.
Some cereals also contain fruity flavors such as banana, strawberry, and blueberry.
10. Gluten
Gluten is found naturally in grains such as rye, wheat, and barley. Gluten helps the food maintain its shape by providing moisture and elasticity. In cereals, it acts as a binding agent which holds the food together.
These are some of the ingredients that go into cereal making. If you are running a food manufacturing company and planning to source ingredients, then Excesa has your back. Excesa is a food ingredients directory where you can find various ingredients without hassle.