Abstract: Thin, crisp, baked snacks having a chip-like appearance are continuously produced from a cooked, shredded laminate by substantially compressing the laminate without deleteriously affecting the attainment of a substantially uniform, visually apparent shred or woven pattern in the final, baked product. Additionally, at least substantially all, or all of the individual shred layers maintain their integrity and may be viewed in the final, baked product. The substantial compression is achieved by supporting the laminate of cooked, net-like sheets on a conveyer belt, and passing the supported laminate and belt between at least one pair of counterrotating compression rolls. Substantial movement or slippage of the laminate relative to the belt which would substantially disrupt or distort the shred pattern of the laminate is avoided. The substantial compression of the laminate provides a thin, flat, chip-like appearance rather than a puffed or thick biscuit or cracker appearance.

Abstract: Reduced fat, low-fat, or no-fat shredded whole grain wafers or biscuits are produced which exhibit a non-gritty smooth or a slippery mouthfeel and glossy appearance even though the fat content is substantially reduced. In embodiments of the invention, at least a substantial portion of the shortening or fat which is topically applied to a baked, shredded product is replaced with a hydrocolloid gum, preferably guar gum. The gum may be incorporated into the product prior to shredding of whole berries or grains. The gum composition, preferably in substantially dry, particulate, or powdered form may be blended with cooked berries or grains to obtain discrete, shreddable, free-flowing gum coated berries or grains. The hydrocolloid gum may be hydrated by the cooked berries or grains upon admixing so as to achieve adhesion of the dry, particulate, or powdered gum to the surface of the grains or berries.

Abstract: A durum wheat-based ingredient, preferably durum wheat flour, is used in the production of chip-like snacks having a very crunchy, fracturable, non-mealy texture. A machinable dough is formed from at least one durum wheat ingredient, such as durum flour, a no-gluten or low-gluten content starchy material, such as dehydrated potato flakes, water, and a reducing agent, such as sodium metabisulfite. The amount of the durum wheat ingredient may be from about 45% by weight to about 75% by weight, and the amount of reducing agent may be from about 50 ppm to about 300 ppm, based upon the total weight of the durum wheat ingredient and no-gluten or low-gluten content starchy material used to form the machinable dough. The dough may be sheeted, cut into pieces, and baked to a moisture content of less than about 4% by weight. The doughs may be used to produce reduced-fat, low-fat, or zero-fat chip-like products which provide a snapping or cracking sound upon breaking.

Abstract: Reduced fat, low-fat, or no-fat shredded whole grain wafers or biscuits are produced which exhibit a non-gritty smooth or a slippery mouthfeel and glossy appearance even though the fat content is substantially reduced. In embodiments of the invention, at least a substantial portion of the shortening or fat which is topically applied to a baked, shredded product is replaced with a hydrocolloid gum, preferably guar gum. The gum may be incorporated into the product prior to shredding of whole berries or grains. The gum composition, preferably in substantially dry, particulate, or powdered form may be blended with cooked berries or grains to obtain discrete, shreddable, free-flowing gum coated berries or grains. The hydrocolloid gum may be hydrated by the cooked berries or grains upon admixing so as to achieve adhesion of the dry, particulate, or powdered gum to the surface of the grains or berries.

Abstract: Ready-to-eat shredded potato products having a pleasant texture, and a substantially uniform off-white to golden tan color, are obtained by the process of the present invention. A potato dough is formed under low temperature and low shear mixing conditions so as to avoid overgelatinization of the potato starch and tackiness which would impede flowability and the continuous production of long continuous shred layers. Individual discrete dough pieces having a moisture content of from about 29% to about 50% by weight are tempered to distribute the water substantially uniformly throughout the dough pieces, the tempered dough pieces are shredded and the shredded dough is cooked.