Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Extrusion cooking is a high-temperature short-time (HTST) continuous thermomechanical processing operation.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The physicochemical transformation of starch and protein biopolymers in an extruder depends on barrel temperature, pressure, die aperture geometry, moisture, and screw shear rate (governed by screw speed and flight geometry).
Shear rate controls mechanical energy dissipation, starch gelatinization, molecular degradation, and melt expansion.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the key operating parameter is shear rate.