Concept:
Extrusion cooking involves forcing a material through a shaped die under high pressure and temperature.
• Flash evaporation: Occurs when the product exits the high-pressure die into the atmosphere.
• Puffing: The rapid expansion of steam creates a porous, airy structure.
Step 1: The physics of puffing.
Inside the extruder, water is kept liquid by extreme pressure.
Upon exit, the pressure drops instantly, and the water turns to steam.
Step 2: Defining the measurement.
The degree of this "puffing" is a key quality parameter for snacks and cereals.
It is measured as the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the product to the area of the die hole.
Step 3: Conclusion.
This specific measurement is called the Expansion Ratio.
Final Answer: (B)