A method and an installation for the automated preparation of crown-shaped tart shells, comprising the conveying on a conveyor of crown-shaped recesses, the recesses being successively subjected to an extrusion step, a deposition step and a lining step, in which the extrusion step includes the filling of at least one cell of a rotary cell support cylinder with dough, the deposition step includes the ejection of the dough rolls out of the rotary cell support cylinder and the deposition on a shell of each recess of at least two separate dough rolls, and the lining step includes the crushing of the dough rolls deposited in each recess by means of a matrix complementary in shape to the recess in order to form a dough covering at least the shell of the recess.

A method and an installation for the automated preparation of crown-shaped tart shells, comprising the conveying on a conveyor of crown-shaped recesses, the recesses being successively subjected to an extrusion step, a deposition step and a lining step, in which the extrusion step includes the filling of at least one cell of a rotary cell support cylinder with dough, the deposition step includes the ejection of the dough rolls out of the rotary cell support cylinder and the deposition on a shell of each recess of at least two separate dough rolls, and the lining step includes the crushing of the dough rolls deposited in each recess by means of a matrix complementary in shape to the recess in order to form a dough covering at least the shell of the recess.

A method of making a soft pretzel bite includes cutting a series of transverse slots on one lateral side of a dough strip, curling the transverse slotted dough strip into a respective rolled dough strip, exposing each transverse slot, and transversely cutting each rolled dough strip into dough bites. The method includes washing each dough bite in a caustic solution with the length of each transverse slot being sufficient for excess caustic solution to drain way from the dough bite. The dough bite is baked into a pretzel bite. Each transverse slot allows a volume of the pretzel bite to increase without being constrained by a pretzel skin formed around each transverse slot to aerate an interior of each pretzel bite.

A method of making a soft pretzel bite includes cutting a series of transverse slots on one lateral side of a dough strip, curling the transverse slotted dough strip into a respective rolled dough strip, exposing each transverse slot, and transversely cutting each rolled dough strip into dough bites. The method includes washing each dough bite in a caustic solution with the length of each transverse slot being sufficient for excess caustic solution to drain way from the dough bite. The dough bite is baked into a pretzel bite. Each transverse slot allows a volume of the pretzel bite to increase without being constrained by a pretzel skin formed around each transverse slot to aerate an interior of each pretzel bite.

A food-preparation apparatus for forming and baking a food product (5) from a dough portion (2) in a capsule (12) includes a housing (3) having a capsule-handling device (4) for opening and/or emptying the capsule (12), an upper plate (14), and a lower plate (11), arranged in the housing (3). The lower plate can be adjusted in a guide device between a receiving position (A) for receiving the dough portion (2) from the capsule (12), a position of interaction (W) for interacting with the upper plate (14) for baking and/or forming the dough portion, and an emptying position (E) wherein the lower plate (11) is inclined relative to a base surface (46) of the food-preparation apparatus. The guide device has a diverter (20) with a diverter element (21), which can be switched between at least two switching positions for predetermining an adjustment distance of the lower plate (11) in the guide device, wherein the diverter element (21) is assigned an electromotive drive (M) for switching the diverter element (21) automatically.

A food-preparation apparatus for forming and baking a food product (5) from a dough portion (2) in a capsule (12) includes a housing (3) having a capsule-handling device (4) for opening and/or emptying the capsule (12), an upper plate (14), and a lower plate (11), arranged in the housing (3). The lower plate can be adjusted in a guide device between a receiving position (A) for receiving the dough portion (2) from the capsule (12), a position of interaction (W) for interacting with the upper plate (14) for baking and/or forming the dough portion, and an emptying position (E) wherein the lower plate (11) is inclined relative to a base surface (46) of the food-preparation apparatus. The guide device has a diverter (20) with a diverter element (21), which can be switched between at least two switching positions for predetermining an adjustment distance of the lower plate (11) in the guide device, wherein the diverter element (21) is assigned an electromotive drive (M) for switching the diverter element (21) automatically.

A dough-stretching machine, which is particularly adapted to stretch pizza dough, includes a frame associated with which are a support plane for the mass of dough to be stretched; a dough-stretching unit arranged at the top and coaxially to the support plane according to the defined vertical axis of the frame; movement apparatus for moving the support plane towards/away from the dough-stretching unit. The dough-stretching unit includes a modelling body configured to come into contact with the mass of dough; a plate in which a plurality of radial grooves are identified, each of which slidably houses a modelling element for the mass of dough; kinematic apparatus adapted to move the modelling elements along the radial grooves towards the vertical axis or away from the axis itself. The kinematic apparatus comprising a threaded shaft having one end operatively connected to motorisation and the opposite end rotatably associated with the plate; a central core provided with a nut fixed on the threaded shaft; a plurality of rods each having one end hinged to one of the modelling elements and the opposite end hinged to the central core.

A dough-stretching machine, which is particularly adapted to stretch pizza dough, includes a frame associated with which are a support plane for the mass of dough to be stretched; a dough-stretching unit arranged at the top and coaxially to the support plane according to the defined vertical axis of the frame; movement apparatus for moving the support plane towards/away from the dough-stretching unit. The dough-stretching unit includes a modelling body configured to come into contact with the mass of dough; a plate in which a plurality of radial grooves are identified, each of which slidably houses a modelling element for the mass of dough; kinematic apparatus adapted to move the modelling elements along the radial grooves towards the vertical axis or away from the axis itself. The kinematic apparatus comprising a threaded shaft having one end operatively connected to motorisation and the opposite end rotatably associated with the plate; a central core provided with a nut fixed on the threaded shaft; a plurality of rods each having one end hinged to one of the modelling elements and the opposite end hinged to the central core.

A shaped snack product having a substantially uniform thickness and an exposed surface area that is capable of receiving seasoning. Processes for making a shaped snack product include forming a shaped dough piece followed by intermediary steps that allow for slicing of the subsequently formed baked shaped piece producing at least two sliced pieces.

A shaped snack product having a substantially uniform thickness and an exposed surface area that is capable of receiving seasoning. Processes for making a shaped snack product include forming a shaped dough piece followed by intermediary steps that allow for slicing of the subsequently formed baked shaped piece producing at least two sliced pieces.