Abstract: A pellet-coated food product and method of making the food product. In a first aspect, the invention provides a method comprising the steps: extruding an extruder feed stream to provide an extrudate; pelletizing the extrudate to provide extruded pellets; drying the pellets to provide dried pellets; providing at least a portion of an outer surface of a substrate with an adhesive to provide an adhesive substrate; applying at least a portion of the pellets to the outer surface of the substrate to provide a pellet-coated food product comprising the substrate and the pellets; and freezing the food product. In a second aspect, the invention provides a frozen, pellet-coated food product. The food product comprises a substrate comprising an outer surface and a substrate coating adhered to the outer surface of the substrate. The substrate coating comprises pellets, for example unexpanded pellets.

Abstract: A composition and method for an improved stuffed fry or other cooked food product. Stuffed fries can be made, for example, by coextruding a substrate and filling in a desired ratio to form an extrudate, then cutting, crimping, par frying, freezing, and final frying the extrudate. One composition for stuffed fries comprises a fried substrate that is made from a dough with crimped ends. One composition comprises potatoes, corn syrup, or water in specific weight percentages. One composition for the filling of the stuffed fries is a low moisture filling. One composition comprises at least one gum to reduce free water in the filling and/or substrate by binding to the water in the filling and/or substrate.