Abstract: Gluten and legume protein are combined with an aqueous solution and leavening agent, and processed through an extruder to obtain an expanded textured product resembling a pork snack food. The extruder is configured with a die assembly having a perforation plate with a plurality of small perforations and a forming die with a die opening that may be partitioned into a collection of smaller openings in order to produce products with desired dimensions. The viscous melt is cooked in the extruder and then forced through the die assembly. Upon exiting the forming die of the extruder, a fibrous product base is formed, expanded with air pockets. The base is then further cooked to a shelf stable moisture content, seasoned, and ready for consumption.

Abstract: Gluten and a plant protein are combined with an aqueous solution to make a dough useful for making either an expanded wafer or a leather snack food product. When compressed between two heated surfaces, the dough flattens while releasing moisture to produce an expanded wafer. The expanded wafers may be cut into shapes and/or topped with various snack food toppings to make either sweet or savory snack food products. The wafers may also be used to make a sandwich-type snack food using at least two wafers with a filling in between. Alternatively, the expanded wafer be infused with flavoring solutions to form leather snack food products.

Abstract: A pre-packaged microwavable food having a steam emitting source integral to the package permitting preparation of the food product in a broad range of microwave ovens. A food product is placed into a package. A steam emitting source is placed in porous communication with the food product inside the package. When the package is heated, steam blankets the food product. Steam has a positive effect on cooking performance and cooking time. The steam emitting source can be made from an absorbent material or a gel. The food product can be a half-product, pellet, or other microwavable food or snack product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making low acrylamide food ingredients. When the treated food ingredient powders or flakes made by the present invention are used to make a low moisture, shelf stable food product, the level of acrylamide will be lower than if untreated food ingredient powders or flakes are used. The present invention is directed towards making dehydrated food ingredients from raw foods having relatively high levels of reducing sugars by making a dryable puree. Optionally an acrylamide reducing agent can be added to the puree before drum drying and grinding the dried puree into a powder.

Abstract: A method for making an expandable half-product or pellet suitable for cooking by microwave oven (or other method such as frying) that results in a non-uniform, random design, while having a distinct pattern or style. The half product design is achieved by inducing stress cracks in the half product. The stress cracks are created by a controlled drying process whereby extruded half-products are first case hardened to create an outer skin that requires an internal build-up of pressure to penetrate. After creation of the outer skin, by drying in an oven or in ambient air, the half-product is heated to permit the vapor pressure of the moisture inside the half-product to break through the outer skin and escape. Such escape points induce stress cracks in random places in the half-product. The general pattern of the stress cracks can be varied by manipulation of the time-temperature profile of the case hardening and stress cracking steps.

Abstract: A method for making an expandable half-product or pellet suitable for cooking by microwave oven (or other method such as frying) that results in a non-uniform, random design, while having a distinct pattern or style. The half product design is achieved by inducing stress cracks in the half product. The stress cracks are created by a controlled drying process whereby extruded half-products are first case hardened to create an outer skin that requires an internal build-up of pressure to penetrate. After creation of the outer skin, by drying in an oven or in ambient air, the half-product is heated to permit the vapor pressure of the moisture inside the half-product to break through the outer skin and escape. Such escape points induce stress cracks in random places in the half-product. The general pattern of the stress cracks can be varied by manipulation of the time-temperature profile of the case hardening and stress cracking steps.