Pasta manufacturing process
Pasta is a food that is loved by people of all age group. It is not just easy to make but can be a healthy food option when combined with veggies and nutritious sauces. This food is not just tasty but also has an interesting production process. The production process can be divided into a series of steps and has three key factors. The list of factors that influences the quality of production are raw material, presence of skilled employees and processing technology.
Raw material
The pasta is made from a combination of Semolina and water. The semolina is easily digested by the body due to its high protein content and low starch content. Another flour used in the production of wheat is farina that is high-quality hard wheat that is used for making some types of pasta. According to the best pasta company in India, sometimes eggs are added to the mixture to give some colour and richness to it. However, there are some great pasta manufacturers in India like Gustora that focus on producing 100% egg free pasta for Indian consumers.
Manufacturing process
· Mixing and kneading: The first step in the process is mixing. The semolina is stored in giant silos that has a holding capacity of about 68,100 kgs. The Flour is moved to the mixing machine through pipes. Warm water is also piped to the same mixing machine to knead the mixture.
· Flavouring and colouring: If the product is an egg noodle then the eggs are added to the mixture. Vegetable juices, herbs and spices are added to the pasta if a flavoured variety has to be produced.
· Rolling: The final mixture is moved to the laminator where it pressed into sheets by large cylinders. The dough is flattened by a vacuum mixing machine while pressing air bubbles and excess water from the dough to arrive at the optimum water content of 12%.
· Pasteurization: The dough roll is then moved through a steamer that heats it to 104°C (220°) to make sure that it is free from bacteria.
· Cutting: The dough is given the shape according to the type of pasta that has to be produced. The pasta and macaroni manufacturers in India use different machines for producing different shapes of pasta.
· Drying: After cutting the next step in the process is drying. The pasta is placed in the drying tank where the moisture, heat and drying time are strictly regulated.
· Packaging: The dried pasta is folded in pre-measured amounts and filled into plastic containers. These containers are passed through a conveyer belt where these containers are sealed with a hot press. During the process, a small tube sucks the air of the container and replaces it with a mixture of nitrogen and carbon-di-oxide to increase the shelf life of the product.
This is the step by step process for pasta production that is followed by every pasta manufacturing company to produce your favourite pasta.
