ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dextrin

Dextrin is a type of sugar that is made from starches, which are found in things like potatoes and rice. When starches are broken down by heat or enzymes, they turn into dextrin.

Think of it like when you make toast. When you put bread in the toaster, it turns brown and crispy. Dextrin is like the brown and crispy part of the bread that gives it a yummy flavor.

Dextrin is often used in foods like crackers, chips, and pretzels because it helps make them crispy and crunchy. It also helps bind ingredients together in foods like energy bars and bread.

But dextrin isn't just used in food. It's also used in some medicines to help them dissolve in your body and be absorbed better.

So to summarize, dextrin is a special sugar made from starches that helps make food crispy and helps bind things together. It's also used in some medicines to help them work better in your body.