The pet food industry is evolving towards increasingly sophisticated solutions, in which sensory quality, functionality and process efficiency are key factors. Against this backdrop, pre-gelatinised flours have become a strategic tool for developing distinctive products, optimising texture, palatability and industrial performance.
What are pre-gelatinised flours?
Pregelatinised flours are ingredients that have undergone a heat treatment in which the starch becomes soluble in cold water and acquires improved functional properties, such as a high absorption capacity without the need for heating.
This modification allows it to be used in processes where rapid hydration, dough cohesion and the stability of the final product are critical factors.
Applications in the manufacture of dry dog food
In the production of extruded dry pet food (kibble), pre-gelatinised flours help to:
- Control the expansion of the product and its texture.
- Increase the cohesion of the dough and reduce the formation of fine particles.
- Improved digestibility.
Furthermore, pre-gelatinisation breaks down the complex starch chains, making it much easier for the digestive systems of dogs and cats to absorb nutrients more efficiently and gently.
Snacks: biscuits, extruded products and semi-moist products
The pet snack segment is one of the most dynamic in the market. In this sector, pre-gelatinised flours offer a range of benefits:
- To improve the workability of the dough.
- To achieve a crispier/firmer final texture.
- To promote controlled expansion.
- To provide cohesion and reduce breakage, thereby enhancing the product’s appearance and the consistency of the process.
- To act as a structuring agent.
In the case of semi-moist snacks, their structuring properties ensure that the snacks retain complex, attractive and well-defined shapes after baking or extrusion.
Use in chews (chewable products)
Chews are a product category where texture and durability are essential. Pregelatinised flours enable:
- To facilitate the formation of cohesive and strong matrices.
- To improve stability during moulding and drying.
- To adjust the hardness and elasticity of the final product.
They enable chewing time to be precisely calibrated. By controlling the stability of the food’s three-dimensional matrix, products are created that promote dental health through prolonged mechanical action, without breaking into dangerous pieces.
Key benefits for manufacturers
The use of pregelatinised flours offers both technical and economic benefits:
- Process efficiency: for certain applications, heat treatment is not required.
- Versatility: suitable for a wide range of applications and technologies.
- Stability: improves repeatability between batches.
- Clean label: an alternative to other additives.
Pregelatinised flours have established themselves as an essential ingredient in the pet food industry, thanks to their ability to improve the quality of the final product and optimise production processes.
At Molendum, we are committed to providing solutions tailored to each client’s specific needs, offering high-quality pregelatinised flours that contribute to the development of more competitive, efficient products that are in line with market trends.
Our approach combines technical expertise, bespoke development and market focus to help our partners create more competitive, attractive and efficient products.
