Formulation and Evaluation of Snack Crackers Made with Peanut Flour

The peanut is a valuable seed from the legume Arachis hypogaea, which is largely produced in India, China, and the United States for human consumption as a whole seed, extracted oil, peanut butter, or protein-enhancing ingredient. Worldwide, peanuts are mostly used to produce highquality edible oil. In the United States, the majority of the crop is consumed in whole seed form or used for peanut butter production (3). A small fraction of U.S. peanuts is pressed for oil production. Hydraulic or screw presses can expel 85– 95% of the oil from crushed peanut seeds (2). Processors then use the remaining defatted “cake” to make peanut grits, meals, flours, and protein concentrates (12), all of which are potential food ingredients with high nutrient density. Despite the high caloric content of peanuts, studies have shown that peanuts can be very beneficial in the diet. Peanuts are ABSTRACT