Stability of Native Folate and Added Folic Acid in Micronutrient‐Fortified Corn Masa and Tortillas

Degradation of added folic acid and native folates in micronutrient‐fortified corn masa and tortillas was evaluated using masa prepared from either nixtamalized corn flour or fresh nixtamal. Variations in masa pH, masa holding time at an elevated temperature, and iron source failed to show significant differences in folate loss in corn flour masa prepared in the laboratory. Masa was subsequently prepared from fresh nixtamal in a commercial mill in Mexico, and fortified with one of two different micronutrient premixes containing iron, zinc, B‐vitamins, and either unencapsulated or lipid‐encapsulated folic acid. Folate loss in commercial masa increased significantly with prebake masa holding time for both premixes. Unencapsulated folic acid showed a 73% loss after 4 hr of holding, compared to 60% loss for encapsulated. The difference was statistically significant, indicating a protective effect from the lipid coating. No significant differences in folate levels were found between prebake masa and baked tortillas. Holding baked tortillas for up to 12 hr also had no effect on folate levels. Native folate showed no significant losses throughout the process. Results from the commercial tortilla mill indicate that most of the loss in added folic acid occurs during prebake holding of masa, possibly from microbial degradation.     

Generation of a Mixolab Profile After the Evaluation of the Functionality of Different Commercial Wheat Flours for Hot‐Press Tortilla Production

Refined wheat flours commercially produced by five different U.S. and Mexican wheat blends intended for tortilla production were tested for quality and then processed into tortillas through the hot‐press forming procedure. Tortilla‐making qualities of the flour samples were evaluated during dough handling, hot pressing, baking, and the first five days on the shelf at room temperature. The predominant variables that affected the flour tortilla performance were wet gluten content, alveograph W (220–303) and P/L (0.70–0.94) parameters, farinograph water absorption (57%) and stability (10.8–18.7 min), starch damage (5.43–6.71%), and size distribution curves (uniform particle distribution). Flours produced from a blend of Dark Northern Spring (80%) and Mexican Rayon (20%) wheat had the highest water absorption, and tortillas obtained from this blend showed the highest diameter and lowest thickness. The whitest and best textured tortillas were obtained from the flour milled from three hard types of Mexican wheat blend. A Mixolab profile was generated from the best tortilla flours, those produced by mills 3 and 4. The Mixolab profile showed that a good flour for hot‐press tortillas had a relatively lower absorption and short dough mix time compared with a bread flour and should have a significantly higher gluten compared with an all‐purpose flour. Compared with bread flour, the tortilla flour had higher retrogradation and viscosity values. The Mixolab profile proved to be a good preliminary test to evaluate flours for hot‐press tortillas.     

Effects of Wheat Protein Fractions on Flour Tortilla Quality

Commercial wheat protein fractions (10) were evaluated during processing for quality of tortillas prepared using pastry, tortilla, and bread flours. Protein fractions that separately modify dough resistance and extensibility were evaluated in tortillas to determine whether the proteins could increase diameter, opacity, and shelf stability. Tortillas were prepared using laboratory‐scale, commercial equipment with fixed processing parameters. Dough and tortilla properties were evaluated using analytical methods, a texture analyzer, and subjective methods. Tortillas were stored in plastic bags at 22°C for up to 20 days. Adjustments in water absorption and level of reducing agent were made to normalize differences in functionality of 3% added proteins on dough properties. Tortilla weight, moisture, pH, opacity, and specific volume were not affected by added proteins, except for glutenin and vital wheat gluten treatments, which had decreased opacity in tortillas prepared from pastry flour. Increased insoluble polymeric protein content corresponded to decreased tortilla diameter and improved shelf stability. Treatments yielding tortillas with improved shelf stability and similar tortilla properties were produced when commercially processed vital wheat gluten products, FP600, FP6000, FP5000, or gliadin were added to pastry or tortilla flour. These wheat protein fractions improved processing and tortilla quality of wheat flours, especially pastry flour, by modifying protein content and quality.     

Effect of Micronutrient Fortification on Nutritional and Other Properties of Nixtamal Tortillas

Nixtamalization is the process of steeping dried corn in hot water with calcium hydroxide (lime) with subsequent removal of all or most of the pericarp through washing. The resulting product is called nixtamal. Approximately 60% of corn tortillas in Mexico are produced from nixtamal, with the remainder prepared from nixtamalized corn flour. Nixtamal was fortified with micronutrient premix containing iron, zinc, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin. Premix composition followed a proposed Mexican regulation for corn flour fortification, adjusted for moisture. Effects of premix on masa adhesiveness, hardness, and pH, as well as tortilla sensory properties, stretchability, rollability, and color were measured. Micronutrient levels were tested in the dry corn, nixtamal, masa, and tortillas. There were no significant differences in masa texture or pH, tortilla rollability, or consumer acceptance of tortillas when comparing unfortified control and fortified treatments. Added thiamin was almost entirely degraded during processing. Folic acid and riboflavin decreased 26 and 45%, respectively, through the masa‐tortilla manufacturing process. Niacin showed no significant loss. Despite processing losses, fortification resulted in significant nutrient increases compared with control tortillas. Folic acid increased 974%, riboflavin increased 300%, niacin increased 141%, iron increased 156%, and zinc increased 153% in fortified tortillas.     

Potential of Triticale as a Substitute for Wheat in Flour Tortilla Production

The potential of triticale as a partial or total substitute for wheat in flour tortilla production was evaluated. Different mixtures of triticale and wheat flours were tested in a typical hot‐press formulation. Both grains yielded similar amounts of flour. Wheat flour contained 1.5% more crude protein, 1.6× more gluten, and produced stronger dough than triticale. Triticale flour significantly reduced optimum water absorption and mix time of blends. Flour tortillas with 100% triticale absorbed 8% less water and required 25% of the mix time of the control wheat flour tortilla. The yield of triticale tortillas was lower than the rest of the tortillas due to lower moisture content and water absorption. Triticale dough balls required less proofing and ruptured during hot pressing, thus producing defective tortillas. The 50:50 flour mixture produced doughs with acceptable rheological properties and good quality tortillas. Addition of 1% vital gluten to the 75:25 triticale‐wheat flour mix or 2% to the 100% triticale flour significantly increased water absorption and mix time and improved dough properties and tortilla yields. Textural studies indicated that increasing levels of triticale flour reduced the force required to rupture tortillas. For all tortilla systems, rupture force gradually increased, and extensibility decreased during seven days of storage at room temperature; the highest rate of change occurred during the first day. Sensory evaluation tests indicated that triticale could substitute for 50% of wheat flour without affecting texture, color, flavor, and overall acceptability of tortillas. For production of 100% triticale flour tortillas, at least 2% vital gluten had to be added to the formulation.     

Commercial Evaluation of a Continuous Micronutrient Fortification Process for Nixtamal Tortillas

The corn tortilla plays an integral role in the Mexican diet and is an ideal vehicle for micronutrient fortification. Approximately 60% of corn tortillas in Mexico are produced from nixtamal, with the remainder prepared from masa flour. A process for continuous fortification of nixtamal tortillas was evaluated in two commercial mills in Mexico. A commercial powder dosifier was used to add micronutrient premix containing iron, zinc, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin to nixtamal (1 g/kg) as it was milled. After training and preliminary sampling, mills produced fortified tortillas unassisted for four weeks. Masa flow rates over a four‐day period were 10–12 kg/min in both plants. Premix flow from the dosifier showed good stability, with an average coefficient of variation of 1.6%. Initial results indicated consistency in the fortification process, with significantly increased variation during the four‐week production period. Fortified tortillas had significantly higher levels of all nutrients tested. Micronutrient losses were <11% in all cases except folic acid, which showed an 80% loss. Despite processing losses, fortification resulted in a nearly fivefold increase in folic acid compared with control tortillas. The new fortification process is technically viable and was well received by millers.     

Wheat Tortilla Quality: Impact of Amylose Content Adjustments Using Waxy Wheat Flour

Amylose content is closely related to wheat flour pasting or thermal properties, and thus affects final food qualities. Fourteen flour blends with amylose content ranges of <1 to 29% were used to study tortilla production and quality parameters. Reduced amylose contents decreased dough stickiness and pliability; low amylose doughs were also very smooth in appearance. Very low flour amylose content was associated with earlier tortilla puffing and poor machinability during baking, darker color, low opacity, larger diameters, and reduced flexibility after storage. Tortilla texture analysis indicated that lowering amylose content gave fresh tortillas higher extensibility; after three or more days storage, however, low amylose flours required more force to break the tortillas and the rupture distances became shorter. These results, as reflected in covariate analysis, were not significantly affected by the flour blend's protein content, swelling volume/power, SDS‐sedimentation volume, mixograph dough development time, or mixograph tolerance score. Based on our observation of an initial increase in extensibility with reduced‐amylose tortillas, adding 10–20% waxy flour into wild‐type flours should be ideal for restaurant (on‐site) tortilla production or circumstances where tortillas are consumed shortly (within a day) after production. The optimal flour amylose content for hot‐press wheat tortilla products is 24–26%.     

Determining the Role of Starch in Flour Tortilla Staling Using α‐Amylase

Effects of α‐amylase modification on dough and tortilla properties were determined to establish the role of starch in tortilla staling and elucidate the antistaling mechanism of this enzyme. Control and amylase‐treated tortillas were prepared using a standard bake test procedure, stored at 22°C, and evaluated over four weeks. Amylase improved shelf‐stability of tortillas. The enzyme also produced a significant amount of dextrins and sugars, decreased loss of amylose solubility, and weakened starch granules. Amylopectin crystallinity increased with time, but was similar for the control and treated tortillas. Staling of tortillas appears to mainly involve the starch in the amorphous phase. As such, amylase activity does not significantly interfere with amylopectin crystallization. It is proposed that amylase partially hydrolyzed the dispersed starch (i.e., mostly amylose), starch bridging the crystalline region, and protruding amylopectin branches. Starch hydrolysis decreases the rigid structure and plasticized polymers during storage. The flexibility of tortillas results from the combined functionalities of the amylose gel and amylopectin solidifying the starch granules during storage. Protein functionality may also be involved in tortilla staling, but this needs further research.     

Effect of High‐Molecular‐Weight Glutenin Subunit Allelic Composition on Wheat Flour Tortilla Quality

Wheat cultivars possessing quality attributes needed to produce optimum quality tortillas have not been identified. This study investigated the effect of variations in high‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunits encoded at the Glu‐1 loci (Glu‐A1, Glu‐B1, and Glu‐D1) on dough properties and tortilla quality. Flour protein profiles, dough texture, and tortilla physical quality attributes were evaluated. Deletion at Glu‐D1 resulted in reduced insoluble polymeric protein content of flour, reduced dough compression force, and large dough extensibility. These properties produced very large tortillas (181 mm diameter) compared with a control made with commercial tortilla wheat flour (161 mm). Presence of a 7 + 9 allelic pair at Glu‐B1 increased dough strength (largest compression force, reduced extensibility, and small‐diameter tortillas). Deletion at Glu‐A1 produced large tortillas (173 mm) but with unacceptable flexibility during storage (score <3.0 at day 16). In general, presence of 2* at Glu‐A1, in combination with 5 + 10 at Glu‐D1, produced small‐diameter tortillas that required large force to rupture (tough texture). Presence of 2 + 12 alleles instead of 5 + 10 at Glu‐D1 produced tortillas with a good compromise between diameter (>165 mm) and flexibility during storage (>3.0 at day 16). These allele combinations, along with deletion at Glu‐D1, show promise for tortilla wheat development.     

Role of Gluten in Flour Tortilla Staling

Effects of protease and transglutaminase (TG) on dough and tortilla microstructures, shelf‐stability, and protein profile were determined to infer the role of gluten in tortilla staling. Control and enzyme‐treated tortillas were prepared using a standard bake test procedure and evaluated for three weeks. Confocal micrographs of control dough showed thin protein strands forming a continuous web‐like matrix. Protease‐treated dough had pieces of proteins in place of the continuous matrix, while TG‐treated dough had thicker protein strands that were heterogeneously distributed. Control tortillas had a well‐distributed continuous protein structure. Protease‐treated tortilla had a continuous structure despite being composed of hydrolyzed proteins in the dough, while the TG‐treated tortilla retained clumps of proteins. Both treatments resulted in shorter shelf‐stability of tortillas. An evenly distributed and moderately stronger gluten network is necessary for longer retention of tortilla flexibility. Solubility of protein fractions differed among treatments, but molecular weight distribution did not differentiate control and treated dough or tortillas. The proportion of each protein fraction appears to affect staling.     

Objective Texture Measurements of Commercial Wheat Flour Tortillas

Texture is a property of major importance in the evaluation of baked products. To determine a sample of commercial ranges for stretchability, rollability, firmness, and Kramer shear cell measurements for wheat flour tortillas using the TA‐XT2 texture analyzer, three separate sets of five tortilla brands purchased from stores in Manhattan, KS, were evaluated. Two brands had two formulations, regular and fat‐free. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in stretchability, firmness, and Kramer shear cell occurred between regular and fat‐free tortillas of one tortilla brand. Significant differences (P < 0.05) also were found among the sets of some tortilla brands. Kramer shear cell and stretchability measurements are recommended because Kramer shear cell measures the force combined with compression, shearing, and extrusion. Stretchability measurements were repeatable and are an important textural property of wheat flour tortillas. Ranges for textural properties for commercial wheat flour tortillas were determined, as well as the variability of the textural methods used.     

Effects of Fortification and Enrichment of Maize Tortillas on Growth and Brain Development of Rats Throughout Two Generations

The growth and brain development of laboratory rats fed typical indigenous tortilla‐based diets were determined throughout two generations. The experiment compared three different types of tortilla‐based diets: regular tortillas produced from dry masa flour (RDMF), tortillas obtained from fresh masa (FM), and tortillas produced from dry masa flour fortified with 6% defatted soybean and enriched with vitamins B₁, B₂, niacin, and folic acid and microminerals iron and zinc (FEDMF). Female rats were mated 58 days postweaning with males belonging to the same treatment with the objective of obtaining second generation pups that were further subjected to regular lactation and 28 day postweaned growth. A comparison between growth of first and second generation rats was determined. In addition, representative animals of each physiological stage were first exsanguineted for hematocrit determination and then slaughtered with the aim of obtaining femur and brain tissues. Cerebral DNA and number of neurons were determined in each of the brains sampled. Growth of rats fed FEDMF was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in both generations than counterparts fed RDMF or FM. The difference among treatments was more evident in second generation rats. Pregnancy rate, number of newborns per litter, litter weight, and pup's survival rate was higher for the control and FEDMF treatments. Femur growth was also higher (P < 0.05) for first‐generation male adult rats fed control and FEDMF. The concentration and total content of cerebral DNA and number of neurons in males and females belonging to the first generation was similar. However, for second generation rats, these values were lower for animals fed regular tortilla diets. This data clearly demonstrates that the negative effects of malnutrition on brain development of pups occurred during gestation and lactation.     

Evaluation of the Functionality of Five Different Soybean Proteins in Hot‐Press Wheat Flour Tortillas

Five different soybean protein sources were added to wheat flour to increase the protein content by 15–25%, and the resulting composite flours were optimally processed into hot‐press tortillas in a pilot plant. The rheological properties of composite flours were evaluated with the farinograph, alveograph, and other wheat quality tests. Tortilla‐making qualities of the control and soybean‐fortified flours were evaluated during dough handling, hot pressing, and baking. The resulting tortillas were tested in terms of yield, physical and chemical parameters, sensory properties, color, and objective and subjective texture. The soybean‐fortified tortillas had increased yields because of the higher dough water absorption and enhanced essential amino acid scores. Among the five different soybean proteins, the defatted soybean flour (SBM1) with the lowest fat absorption index and protein dispersibility index (PDI) and the soybean concentrate produced the best fortified tortillas. The protein meals with high PDI and relatively lower water absorption index (SBM3 and SBM4) produced sticky doughs, lower alveograph P/L values, and defective tortillas. All soybean proteins produced higher yields of tortillas with an enhanced protein quality and amount of dietary fiber.     

Use of near-isogenic wheat lines to determine the glutenin composition and functionality requirements for flour tortillas

In wheat ( Triticum aestivum L), the synthesis of high molecular weight (HMW) glutenins (GS) is controlled by three heterologous genetic loci present on the long arms of group 1 wheat chromosomes. The loci Glu-A1, Glu-B1, and Glu-D1 and their allelic variants play important roles in the functional properties of wheat flour. This study focused on understanding the functionality of these protein subunits on tortilla quality. Near-isogenic wheat lines in which one or more of these loci were absent or deleted were used. Tortillas were prepared from each deletion line and the parent lines. The elimination of certain HMW-GS alleles alter distinct but critical aspects of tortilla quality such as diameter, shelf stability, and overall quality. Two deletion lines possessing HMW-GS 17 + 18 at Glu-B1 and deletions in Glu-A1 and Glu-D1 had significantly larger tortilla diameters, yet tortilla shelf life was compromised or unchanged from the parent lines used to develop the deletion lines or the commercial tortilla flour used as a control. Alternatively, a deletion line possessing Glu-A1 and Glu-D1 (HMW-GS 1, 5 + 10) and a deletion in Glu-B1 also significantly improved tortilla diameters. Whereas the increase in diameter was less than the line possessing only HMW-GS 17 + 18 at Glu-B1, the stability of the tortillas were, however, maintained and improved as compared to the parent lines containing a full compliment of HMW-GS. Thus, the presence of subunits 5 + 10 at Glu-D1 alone or in combination with subunit 1 at Glu-A1 appears to provide a compromise of improvement in dough extensibility for improved tortilla diameters while also providing sufficient gluten strength to maintain ideal shelf stability.     

Effects of Resistant Starch and Fiber from High‐Amylose Non‐Floury Corn on Tortilla Texture

A high‐amylose, non‐floury corn, a floury corn, and a 1:1 blend were made into masa and then tortillas. The masa flour made with the high‐amylose corn had a greater amount of resistant starch (RS 28.8%) and a greater amount of total dietary fiber (TDF 42.1%) than that with the floury corn (RS 2.9%, TDF 9.6%), producing a high‐fiber tortilla. The masa was evaluated for pasting properties using a Rapid ViscoAnalyser (RVA). The high‐amylose masa slurry gelatinized little at 95°C. The floury masa had the greatest peak viscosity, whereas the 1:1 blend was intermediate in value. Sensory evaluations of the tortillas for the textural attributes showed the floury tortillas to be chewier, more rollable, and grittier than the high‐amylose tortillas, whereas the blend tortillas were intermediate for most attributes. The cutting force of the high‐amylose tortillas, measured on a texture analyzer, was very low; the blend and floury tortillas required more force. Chewiness was correlated to rollability (r = 0.99, P = 0.05). The %RS and %TDF were correlated to rollability (r = –0.99), and cutting force (r = 0.99). The floury and blend tortillas had firm textures expected of desirable tortillas, whereas the high‐amylose tortillas broke under little force, and would not roll. The high‐amylose tortillas had high amounts of RS and TDF but poor texture. The blend tortillas retained most floury tortilla textural properties, making them suitable products for consumer use.     

Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Extruded Nixtamalized Corn Flour and Tortillas Enriched with Sorghum Bran

Sorghum bran (SB) is a good source of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity that increases the antioxidant activity (AOX) of tortillas prepared with extruded nixtamalized corn flour. The objective of this research was to study the effects of bran addition (0, 5, or 10%) before (ENBESB) or after (ENAFSB) extrusion, in the features and composition of baked tortillas in terms of total phenolic compounds (TPC), AOX, color (L , a , b, hue, chroma, and E value), and tortilla firmness. It was possible to retain more than 81.8 and 89.9% of TPC and AOX, respectively, in ENBESB‐10% flour. Tortillas prepared with ENAFSB‐10% flour retained more than 92 and 76% of TPC and AOX, respectively, compared with ENBESB. However, tortillas elaborated with ENAFSB flour showed a higher firmness and lower flexibility than counterparts produced from ENBESB. The use of extrusion to produce nixtamalized corn flours and the strategy of adding the SB to the corn meal before extrusion were essential to retain TPC and AOX and, additionally, to enhance texture of tortillas.     

Effect of Cross‐Linked Resistant Starch on Wheat Tortilla Quality

Resistant starch (RS) ingredients are an attractive option to increase dietary fiber in baked products. This study determined the effect of two forms of cross‐linked and pregelatinized cross‐linked RS, Fibersym‐RW (Fsym) or FiberRite‐RW (FRite), respectively, from wheat on dough and tortilla quality and acceptability. Refined wheat tortillas with 0% (control) to 15% RS (flour basis) were made using a standard baking process. Tortillas with 100% whole white wheat were also made. Physical and rheological properties of dough and tortillas, and sensory profile of tortillas were evaluated. Dough with whole wheat and 15% FRite were significantly harder and less extensible than the control dough; this was related to high water absorption of these doughs. Tortillas with whole wheat and 10–15% FRite were less puffed and denser than the control; however these levels of FRite significantly increased tortilla weight (by up to 6.2%). Dough and tortillas with Fsym were comparable to the control. Dietary fiber (g/100 g, db) increased from 2.8 ± 0.3 in control to 14.3 ± 0.5 and 13.6 ± 0.5 in 15% Fsym and 15% FRite tortillas, respectively. Tortillas with whole wheat were less acceptable than the control in appearance, flavor, and texture, while tortillas with 15% Fsym had higher overall acceptability than the control. Incorporation of 15% cross‐linked wheat RS to increase tortilla dietary fiber is feasible without negatively affecting dough handling and tortilla quality.     

Effects of Wheat Starch and Gluten on Tortilla Texture

Wheat starches were isolated from three wheat flours. Two vital wheat glutens, one from a commercial source and another one isolated from straight-grade flour, were combined with wheat starches to form reconstituted flours with a protein level of 10%. Several characteristics of tortillas made with the hot-press method were measured. No significant difference (P < 0.05) occurred in texture of tortillas made with hard wheat gluten and soft wheat gluten. Wheat starches did not have any significant (P < 0.05) effect on tortilla stretchability or foldability. Analysis of variance confirmed that wheat starch and gluten had limited effects on tortilla texture. The possible reasons were that the solubles of wheat flour were not included, and the shortening in the tortilla formula interfered with the interaction of gluten and starch.     

Combining Maltogenic Amylase with CMC or Wheat Gluten to Prevent Amylopectin Recrystallization and Delay Corn Tortilla Staling

Antistaling properties of a bacterial maltogenic amylase, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and vital wheat gluten on quality of corn tortillas were evaluated during 14 days of storage. Amylopectin recrystallization was the driving force behind the staling of corn tortillas. Increasing levels of recrystallized amylopectin measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) correlated significantly with increased tortilla stiffness (r = 0.43) and reduction in tortilla pliability (r = ‐0.42) during storage. Maltogenic amylase (275–1,650 activity units) made tortillas less stiff but did not preserve pliability and extensibility as effectively as CMC (0.25–0.5%). The combination of 825 MANU of maltogenic amylase (to interfere with intragranular amylopectin recrystallization) and 0.25% CMC (to create a more flexible intergranular matrix than retrograded amylose and amylopectin) produced less stiff, equally flexible, and less chewy tortillas than did 0.5% CMC. Vital wheat gluten was not as effective as CMC in preserving tortilla flexibility or as good as the maltogenic amylase in reducing stiffness. Further research is required to optimize the addition of maltogenic amylases in continuous processing lines that use fresh masa instead of nixtamalized corn flour (NCF) and to determine how these amylases interfere with amylopectin recrystallization.     

Functionality of Rice and Sorghum Flours in Baked Tortilla and Corn Chips

The effects of raw and gelatinized sorghum and rice flours on the structure and texture of baked corn and tortilla chips were evaluated. Dry masa flour was hydrated into masa, sheeted, and cut. Corn chips were baked in an air-impingement oven, and tortilla chips were baked first in a three-tier oven and then in an air-impingement oven. Baked tortilla chips required significantly greater force to break and were less susceptible to breakage during handling than baked corn chips. Raw and gelatinized, normal and waxy rice and sorghum flours significantly changed the texture and structure of baked chips. Waxy rice and sorghum flours reduced peak force and work, increased chip thickness, and improved overall acceptability (as assessed by a taste panel), but waxy rice and sorghum chips were more fragile and had a greater number of large central air cells. Waxy rice was more beneficial than waxy sorghum flour. Gelatinization of waxy flours increased thickness of baked chips, whereas gelatinization of nonwaxy flours had no improvement over waxy flours alone. Gelatinization of sorghum flour significantly decreased the peak force and work values for baked tortilla chips when compared with the control chips. Gelatinized rice flour tortilla chips were not significantly different than the control chips but were significantly harder than the other baked tortilla chips. The complex interactions that occur in baked corn and baked tortilla chips suggest that each ingredient acts differently in the two products. Thus, each ingredient must be evaluated for specific products and processes.