What You Need to Know
During heating, the internal moisture turns to vapor, raising pressure until the hull ruptures. The starch granules gelatinize and the proteins denature, creating a network of pores that traps steam and expands the seed. As the moisture content drops below 5 %, the structure hardens into a crisp texture.
The Science
Primary Reaction
Gelatinization of starch and denaturation of seed proteins leading to rapid expansion and pore formation