Native and fermented waxy cassava starch as a novel gluten-free and clean label ingredient for baking and expanded product development

Amylose-free and wild-type cassava starches were fermented for up to 30 days and oven- or sun-dried. The specific volume (nu) after baking was measured in native and fermented starches. The average nu (across treatments) for waxy starch was 3.5 times higher than that in wild-type starches (17.6 vs. 4.8 cm(3) g(-1)). The best wild-type starch (obtained after fermentation and sun-drying) had considerably poorer breadmaking potential than native waxy cassava (8.4 vs. 16.4 cm(3) g(-1), respectively). The best results were generally obtained through the synergistic combination of fermentation (for about 10-14 days) and sun-drying. Fermentation reduced viscosities and the weight average molar mass led to denser macromolecules and increased branching degree, which are linked to a high loaf volume. The absence of amylose, however, was shown to be a main determinant as well. Native waxy starch (neutral in taste, gluten-free, and considerably less expensive than the current alternatives to cassava) could become a new ingredient for the formulation of clean label-baked or fried expanded products.