Abstract: A lower carbohydrate soup product is produced by preparing a mixture of soup ingredients, native xanthan gum, particulate xanthan gum and water to form a suspension in a high-speed mixer at a high sheer rate. The native xanthan gum and particulate xanthan gum cooperate to provide a viscosity necessary for successfully retorting a lower carbohydrate soup. The suspension is heated with steam injection until a viscosity sufficient to maintain the soup ingredients and particulate xanthan gum in a suspension. The suspension is then injected into a retort container and undergoes a retort process, thereby producing the lower carbohydrate soup product.

Abstract: Methods for making an uncooked extruded dough product are provided, comprising extruding a dough composition of pre-gelatinized starch comprising at least about 75 percent of amylopectin, flour, leavening agent and water through a die under conditions so that the dough composition does not exceed 140° F. throughout the extrusion process. The resulting dough product when cooked has a baked specific volume of greater than about 3.0 cc/g. Products of this process, including filled products, are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for making an uncooked extruded dough product are provided, comprising injecting gas into a pressurized dough before extruding a dough composition of pre-gelatinized starch comprising at least about 75 percent of amylopectin, flour, leavening agent and water through a die under conditions so that the dough composition does not exceed 140° F. throughout the extrusion process. The resulting dough product when cooked has a baked specific volume of greater than about 2.5 cc/g. Products of this process, including filled products, are also provided. Methods for injecting gas into dough for improved extrudability are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for making an uncooked extruded dough product are provided, comprising extruding a dough composition of pre-gelatinized starch comprising at least about 75 percent of amylopectin, flour, leavening agent and water through a die under conditions so that the dough composition does not exceed 140° F. throughout the extrusion process. The resulting dough product when cooked has a baked specific volume of greater than about 3.0 cc/g. Products of this process, including filled products, are also provided.

Abstract: Non-emulsion based, moisture containing fillings for dough products and dough products incorporating the filling, are provided. In particular, the fillings comprise at least two water activity impacting ingredients so that the water activity of the filling can be adjusted, e.g., as by the incorporation of moisture, so as to be substantially equivalent to the water activity of the dough into which the filling is to be incorporated to provide a dough product in accordance with the present invention. By reducing the differential in water activities between the dough and the filling, moisture migration between the filling and the dough can be reduced or eliminated so that when the dough product is baked or otherwise cooked, a baked dough product with excellent visual and organoleptic properties is produced, even after prolonged periods of storage.