A taco shell is produced using a rotary cutter including a shaft, an outer blade extending radially outward from the shaft and a first inner blade extending radially outward from the shaft. The outer blade defines an interior area, enclosed by the outer blade, and an exterior area. The first inner blade is located in the interior area and includes a plurality of teeth. A dough piece is cut from a dough sheet with the outer blade, and a first arcuate line of depressions is created in the dough piece with the plurality of teeth. The dough piece is folded to form a shaped dough piece, and the shaped dough piece is baked to produce a hard taco shell.

A taco shell is produced using a rotary cutter including a shaft, an outer blade extending radially outward from the shaft and a first inner blade extending radially outward from the shaft. The outer blade defines an interior area, enclosed by the outer blade, and an exterior area. The first inner blade is located in the interior area and includes a plurality of teeth. A dough piece is cut from a dough sheet with the outer blade, and a first arcuate line of depressions is created in the dough piece with the plurality of teeth. The dough piece is folded to form a shaped dough piece, and the shaped dough piece is baked to produce a hard taco shell.

A heat controlled oven system includes a plurality of oven levels, including an oven belt and gas burners; a gas flow network, including a gas supply line, a variable flow control valve, and on/off flow control valves; and a heat control unit, including a processor, a non-transitory memory, and input/output component, a heat modeler, a heat manager, a feedback controller, and a valve controller, such that the heat control unit is configured to calculate an estimated heat demand to adjust to a temperature set point, based on a heat model of the at least one oven level, and further calculates an optimized heat demand using a control loop feedback algorithm. Also disclosed is a method of heat calculation for an oven, including defining a heat model, calculating and optimizing the estimated heat demand, calculating and setting a variable valve position for the gas burners.

A heat controlled oven system includes a plurality of oven levels, including an oven belt and gas burners; a gas flow network, including a gas supply line, a variable flow control valve, and on/off flow control valves; and a heat control unit, including a processor, a non-transitory memory, and input/output component, a heat modeler, a heat manager, a feedback controller, and a valve controller, such that the heat control unit is configured to calculate an estimated heat demand to adjust to a temperature set point, based on a heat model of the at least one oven level, and further calculates an optimized heat demand using a control loop feedback algorithm. Also disclosed is a method of heat calculation for an oven, including defining a heat model, calculating and optimizing the estimated heat demand, calculating and setting a variable valve position for the gas burners.

Gluten-free tortillas are made from a composition including a gluten-free flour mixture constituting from 50-60% of weight of the composition, with the gluten-free flour mixture consisting of a combination of rice or tapioca flour, oat flour and quinoa flour. In particular embodiments, the flour mixture includes substantially equal amounts of the rice or tapioca flour, oat flour and quinoa flour by weight of the composition. In addition, the composition includes an enzyme for structural integrity purposes. In embodiments utilizing rice flour in the tri-flour blend, the composition can also comprises about 8% by weight of tapioca starch. Further, the gluten-free tortilla may be soft flat tortilla or a soft shaped tortilla having a formed shape selected from a cup, bowl, U- or square bottomed shaped taco shell, boat, tube, envelope or cone.

Gluten-free tortillas are made from a composition including a gluten-free flour mixture constituting from 50-60% of weight of the composition, with the gluten-free flour mixture consisting of a combination of rice or tapioca flour, oat flour and quinoa flour. In particular embodiments, the flour mixture includes substantially equal amounts of the rice or tapioca flour, oat flour and quinoa flour by weight of the composition. In addition, the composition includes an enzyme for structural integrity purposes. In embodiments utilizing rice flour in the tri-flour blend, the composition can also comprises about 8% by weight of tapioca starch. Further, the gluten-free tortilla may be soft flat tortilla or a soft shaped tortilla having a formed shape selected from a cup, bowl, U- or square bottomed shaped taco shell, boat, tube, envelope or cone.

Systems and methods for shaping food items are provided. The systems and methods can shape the food items into taco shapes. A system can include a basket, a tool, and an insert. The basket includes troughs and a handle. The tool includes guides that receive patties made of, for example, potatoes, meat, and/or other food items. The insert includes wedges sized and shaped to fit through the guides and into the troughs of the basket. The tool is assembled with the basket in use, and frozen patties are placed in the guides. The insert is assembled with the tool such that the wedges contact the patties. The assembly is placed in hot oil to cook the patties. As the patties cook and soften, the insert moves downward relative to the tool and basket, and the wedges urge the patties into the troughs and into a taco shape.

Systems and methods for shaping food items are provided. The systems and methods can shape the food items into taco shapes. A system can include a basket, a tool, and an insert. The basket includes troughs and a handle. The tool includes guides that receive patties made of, for example, potatoes, meat, and/or other food items. The insert includes wedges sized and shaped to fit through the guides and into the troughs of the basket. The tool is assembled with the basket in use, and frozen patties are placed in the guides. The insert is assembled with the tool such that the wedges contact the patties. The assembly is placed in hot oil to cook the patties. As the patties cook and soften, the insert moves downward relative to the tool and basket, and the wedges urge the patties into the troughs and into a taco shape.

A cooked, bread like product is provided. The product is formed initially as a pourable batter that has an increasing consistency with time, effected by the use of a fast acting hydrocolloid in combination with a slow acting hydrocolloid and proofing. The cooked product can be used in combination with a topping to form a product like a pizza.

A cooked, bread like product is provided. The product is formed initially as a pourable batter that has an increasing consistency with time, effected by the use of a fast acting hydrocolloid in combination with a slow acting hydrocolloid and proofing. The cooked product can be used in combination with a topping to form a product like a pizza.