Cereals contain grains, sweeteners, flavorings, and food additives. Grains are usually ground into flour and can be whole or refined. Sweeteners can make up the largest percentage of cereal ingredients, while flavorings enhance the taste. Food additives are used to improve texture, prevent staleness, and increase nutritional value.
Most commercially produced cereals have a long list of ingredients, partly due to consumer tastes, but also partly to compensate for the manufacturing process and shelf stability needs. The two main types of cereal ingredients most commonly found are cereals and sweeteners. Grains are usually what make up the majority of grains, although most varieties use a combination of different grains to form the final product. Food additives are another common grain ingredient, often comprising the majority of a product’s ingredient list. Flavorings, including items such as freeze-dried fruit, dried nuts, and other non-grain nuggets, are also common cereal ingredients.
Most of the cereal ingredients are made from grains. This includes wheat, barley, oats and rice. The grains are usually ground into flour and then blended together to achieve a specific texture or taste. Flour can be formed into a variety of shapes, from brittle flakes to letters.
Grains can be made from whole grains or refined grains. Refined grains have the bran and germ removed from the berry before it is ground. It is not uncommon for the germ and bran to be reintroduced into the flour mix at a later time to restore some of the grain’s nutritional value. Whole grains are generally healthier and contain higher amounts of minerals and vitamins, but are also more perishable than refined grains.
Sweeteners can sometimes make up the largest percentage of cereal ingredients in some brands. Some cereals actually have more sweeteners than cereal. A sweetener can be pure refined sugar, brown or brown sugar, or even food-derived syrups such as high-fructose corn syrup, which can provide much sweeter by volume than white sugar. In a cereal that has marshmallows or other small, colorful shapes, the amount of sugar will be very high, because marshmallows are made mostly of sweeteners.
Flavorings are added to cereals to enhance or complement the flavor of the cereal. These can be sugared, freeze-dried fruits like strawberries or dried fruits like raisins. Roasted nuts such as almonds or walnuts can also be used as cereal ingredients, potentially increasing the nutritional value of the product.
Food additives are another type of grain-based ingredients. This is a broad category that includes items intended to improve or change some aspect of major grain ingredients, especially grains. A large percentage of additives is used to ensure that the cereal does not absorb too much moisture and become stale and that the wheels are kept even when soaked in milk. Other additives can enhance the flavor of the cereal or make the texture crunchier. Some additives are also used to increase the amount of vitamins and minerals in grains so it can provide additional health benefits.
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