Grain Products Whole grains are good sources of nutrients, energy and fiber. Economical, easy to store and easy to prepare.

Cereals - starchy grains used as food. Wheat Wheat Corn Corn Rice Rice Oats Oats Barley Barley Rye Rye

Cereals can be prepared and eaten in their natural form Cereals can be prepared and eaten in their natural formOR Cereals can be used to make cereal products Cereals can be used to make cereal products  Flour  Pasta  Breakfast cereals  Muffins  Bread

Cereals are a major part of diets around the world Nutrients Carbohydrates Starch Fiber B vitamins – thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid Iron Protein – if combined with meat, dairy products or other cereals

Cereal Products Flour –made by grinding grains into powder Can be made from any grain Wheat is the most commonly used in the U.S. Used mainly to make baked products like bread Also used as thickener in sauces, soups, and gravies Can be made from whole grain or part of grain Parts of grain removed – refined Fiber, iron, and B vitamins are removed Enriched cereal products have iron and B vitamins added back Fiber is not put back in

Different flours have different flavors and textures Different flours have different flavors and textures All-purpose – general cooking and baking All-purpose – general cooking and baking Used when a recipe merely calls for flour Used when a recipe merely calls for flour Cake – milled more finely than other flours Cake – milled more finely than other flours Used for delicately textured cakes Used for delicately textured cakes Self-rising – contains a leavening agent and salt Self-rising – contains a leavening agent and salt Often used when making quick breads Often used when making quick breads Whole wheat – made from the entire grain kernel, has a coarser texture than other flours Whole wheat – made from the entire grain kernel, has a coarser texture than other flours Used in breads – gives a coarser texture and nuttier flavor Used in breads – gives a coarser texture and nuttier flavor

Pasta – made from a flour paste Uses a special wheat flour (semolina) made from durum wheat to maintain shape Macaroni, spaghetti, noodle Shapes – shells, bows, corkscrews Other ingredients to add flavor and appearance Noodles – eggs or egg yolks Pasta – spinach and tomatoes PPPPasta with fillings (cheese & meat) -R-R-R-Ravioli -T-T-T-Tortellini -M-M-M-Most pastas are enriched with thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid and iron

SSSSold in several forms DDDDried – most common iiiinexpensive eeeeasy to store (cool, dry cabinet) FFFFresh – refrigerated or frozen in many markets mmmmore expensive than dried PPPPackages with pasta and sauce mixes EEEExample: macaroni & cheese FFFFrozen in sauces CCCConvenient but expensive

Rice White rice is produced when the bran layer is removed Needs to be enriched (nutrients added back in b/c removed) Brown rice is whole grain rice Higher in fiber than white rice Nutty flavor and more chewy than white rice Long grain rice – cooks to a fluffy texture, grains more likely to stay separated Short/medium grain rice tend to cling together when cooked

Instant/precooked rice Has been fully cooked and dried Takes only a few minutes to prepare Costs more than regular rice Wild rice – seed from wild grasses that grow in marshes (not rice) Nutty flavor More expensive than rice Often mixed w/ brown rice to lower the cost

Breakfast Cereals From wheat, oats, corn and rice Ready-to-eat and cooked Read labels to determine nutrient value May be high in sugar and contain fat May be low in fiber In general, whole grain, enriched and fortified cereals are nutritious Ready to eat cereal is more expensive than cereals that require cooking Cereals with dried fruits or nuts added and presweetened cereals are more costly than plain cereals. Quick cooking and instant cereals are more costly Compare cost per serving not by weight of package Note serving size

Breads White, whole wheat, rye, oatmeal, pumpernickel, and raisin Variety of forms Rolls, buns, muffins, and bagels Look for freshness dates on package Commercially prepared Prepackaged and sold in grocery store Produced in large quantities and fairly inexpensive Fresh baked Bakeries and bakery section of grocery store Costs more than commercially produced Convenience Bread Products Brown & Serve – partially baked Refrigerated dough Frozen dough – thaw and bake Needs time to rise before baking Vary in price - more than making from scratch but less than prebaked

Storing Cereal Products Most can be stored in tightly sealed containers, in a cool dry place Breakfast cereals can be stored 2-3 months under proper conditions Brown and wild rice keep about 6 months Refined flour, white rice, and pasta keeps up to one year Whole grain products do not last as long b/c they contain fat – store in fridge for longer freshness Breads can be stored about 1 week in a cool, dry place Can be stored in refrigerator for about 3 weeks Can be frozen for several months – wrap tightly Be sure package is tightly sealed wherever bread is stored Cakes and cookies with perishable fillings and frostings will need refrigeration

Cooking Starches & Cereals Directions for cooking cereal products are usually listed on package Tips for cooking cereal products When water and starch are heated, the starch granules swell, absorb water and become soft and thick (gelatinization) Gelatinization causes cereal products to increase in volume Consider when deciding how much to cook White rice triples in volume Brown rice quadruples in volume Pasta doubles in volume Oatmeal triples in volume Temperature is important Too low starch granules will not swell Too high starch granules form lumps Gentle stirring to prevent lumps Overstirring causes the granules to break down

Starch as a Thickener Most common thickeners Cornstarch Flour Used to make Gravy Sauce Pudding Pie fillings Starch is the complex carbohydrate part of plants; the major portion of grain products

Main challenge of using starch as a thickener is preventing lumps Three methods to keep starch granules separated Coat starch with melted fat to make a paste then add liquid slowly, stirring constantly Cheese sauces Combine starch with sugar then stir in liquid slowly Pudding and pie fillings Mix starch with a cold liquid to form a paste, slowly stir the paste into the hot liquid Gravy All require constant stirring

Cooking Pasta Boil in a large amount of water 2 quarts of water per 8 ounces of pasta Use deep pot so water does not boil over Water should be boiling rapidly before adding pasta to keep it from sticking together Add pasta a little at a time to keep water boiling A little butter or oil added to the water also helps keep pasta from sticking together Pasta is done when it no longer has a hard white center Test by tasting Should be a little chewy but not crunchy Should not be overcooked and mushy Drain cooked pasta in colander May be rinsed but not recommended Looses nutrients

Cooking Rice Often add seasonings and sauces for flavor Long cooking rice Use twice as much water as rice Combine water, rice, and seasonings in saucepan Use pan large enough to accommodate increased volume of cooked rice Bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer and cover with a lid Follow package directions for cooking time Instant rice Boil water, butter, and salt Remove from heat, add rice, and cover Let stand for time indicated on package

Cooked Cereals Oatmeal, grits Oatmeal, grits Add cereal slowly to boiling water, stirring constantly Add cereal slowly to boiling water, stirring constantly Cook for time indicated on package Cook for time indicated on package

Microwaving Cereal Products Rice, pasta, and breakfast cereals can all be cooked in the microwave Cereals cooked in the microwave take the same amount of time to cook as on the range Less likely to burn in microwave Can be prepared and served in the same microwavable dish Choose large enough dish to allow for boiling and swelling of cereal Dish should be covered during cooking After cooking, leave rice and cereal products stand Stand time allows rice and cereal to continue cooking Pasta does not need stand time

Making Breads Baked products rise because air, steam, and carbon dioxide become trapped in the product Air is incorporated during mixing Steam is formed when liquid ingredients are heated as the product bakes Carbon dioxide is produced by leavening agents used as ingredients Quick breads use baking powder or baking soda Yeast breads use yeast

Quick Breads Muffins Muffins Nut breads Nut breads Waffles Waffles Pancakes Pancakes Biscuits Biscuits Popovers Popovers Cream puffs Cream puffs Leavening agents Leavening agents Baking powder & baking soda Pour Batter – thin, enough liquid to be pourable (pancakes, waffles) Pour Batter – thin, enough liquid to be pourable (pancakes, waffles) Drop Batter – thick (muffins, drop biscuits, coffee cakes) Drop Batter – thick (muffins, drop biscuits, coffee cakes) Soft Dough – sticky, stiff, thick mixture (rolled biscuits, dumplings) Soft Dough – sticky, stiff, thick mixture (rolled biscuits, dumplings)

Quick Breads Biscuits Method of preparation Combine dry ingredients Cut shortening into dry ingredients Will look like small peas Use pastry blender or two knives or even your hands Add liquid ingredients and mix Should look rough and lumpy Knead until fairly smooth on lightly floured surface Roll, cut or shape as directed Bake immediately Too much mixing or kneading will cause dough to become tough

Muffins Method of Preparation Combine dry ingredients in one bowl Combine liquid ingredients in a separate bowl Make a well in the center of dry ingredients Pour liquid ingredients into well (dry ingredients) Mix only until all ingredients are moist There should be lumps Quick breads become tough if mixed until lumps are gone If making muffins Place batter into muffin tins that have paper liners or that have been greased Fill only 2/3rds full Bake in preheated oven immediately If not set muffins will not rise completely

Preparing Pancakes & Waffles Mix batter in same way muffin batter is prepared Pancake & waffle batter are thinner than muffin batter Cooking surface should be hot so that outside browns and inside becomes fluffy inside Pancakes are turned when little bubbles appear on surface Waffles are done when steam no longer comes out of the waffle iron

Yeast Breads Use yeast as the leavening agent Yeast - a tiny plant that produces carbon dioxide when mixed with the right ingredients Carbon dioxide is what makes the bread rise Rising takes time Preparation Mix warm liquid, sugar, and yeast Add flour and other ingredients Allow mixed dough to rest ten minutes Knead dough on floured surface Push dough away with heel of hand Turn dough ¼ turn Fold dough in half toward self Repeat until smooth and elastic

Place dough in greased bowl and cover with dish towel Place dough in greased bowl and cover with dish towel Rise until doubled in size Rise until doubled in size Test by pushing two fingers into dough Test by pushing two fingers into dough If dough stays indented, it has risen enough If dough stays indented, it has risen enough Punch down by pushing a fist into dough Punch down by pushing a fist into dough Releases carbon dioxide gas Releases carbon dioxide gas Some yeast breads are allowed to rise a second time Some yeast breads are allowed to rise a second time and punched down again Shape dough as described in recipe Shape dough as described in recipe Allow dough to rise until double in size Allow dough to rise until double in size Bake according to recipe Bake according to recipe Breads are done when they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped Breads are done when they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped Remove bread from pans immediately and cool on cooling racks Remove bread from pans immediately and cool on cooling racks Will become soggy if not immediately removed from pan Will become soggy if not immediately removed from pan