A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles are composed of, comprise or consist of a material which is magnetic and/or electroconductive; b. heating the particles in the bed to form a cooking medium in the form of a heated bed of particles, wherein in step b the particles are heated at least partially by electromagnetic induction; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated particles transfer heat into the elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.

A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles are composed of, comprise or consist of a material which is magnetic and/or electroconductive; b. heating the particles in the bed to form a cooking medium in the form of a heated bed of particles, wherein in step b the particles are heated at least partially by electromagnetic induction; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated particles transfer heat into the elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.

A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles; b. heating and moving the particles in the bed to form a mobile cooking medium in the form of a heated, mobile bed of particles; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the snack food precursor elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated, mobile particles transfer heat into the snack food precursor elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.

A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles; b. heating and moving the particles in the bed to form a mobile cooking medium in the form of a heated, mobile bed of particles; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the snack food precursor elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated, mobile particles transfer heat into the snack food precursor elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.

Stackable, farinaceous based low-fat snack chips are produced from a thin chain link strip of dough blanks by baking the strip in an oven with the strip blanks supported and carried by a lower mold assembly. Alternatively, the strip may be partially baked and then fried with the strip blanks sandwiched between upper and lower molds to produce reduced fat stackable snack chips.

Stackable, farinaceous based low-fat snack chips are produced from a thin chain link strip of dough blanks by baking the strip in an oven with the strip blanks supported and carried by a lower mold assembly. Alternatively, the strip may be partially baked and then fried with the strip blanks sandwiched between upper and lower molds to produce reduced fat stackable snack chips.

A solid preparation ready for consumption is proposed, where the surface has edible particles proportionately, which are fixed by means of a substance system that has a glass transition temperature between about 45 and about 75 C.

The invention relates to a dry-expanded food product comprising at least the following ingredients: a food-grade protein concentrate made of animal or plant protein; a food-grade texturizer selected from the group consisting of plant-derived hydrocolloids and gelling agents, proteolytic additives and the hydrolysis products thereof, and acidifying agents and the salts thereof; and residual water. The invention also relates to a thermally expandable precursor able to shape this dry-expanded food product, as well as the corresponding preparation methods.

The invention provides an extrudable batter for use in providing a shelf-stable, ready-to-eat high-fiber food product. The batter comprises a select amount of a powdered fiber, at least one fat component chosen from an oil and a shortening, the shortening having a solid fat content of about 2% to about 30% at ambient temperature, a humectant, a sweetener, a leavening agent and water. The resultant uncooked batter is flourless and gluten-free and is extrudable in a continuous form. The ready-to-eat high-fiber food product produced by such batter contains about 5 grams or more of fiber per serving and substantially maintains, before and after being baked, a desired shape, structure and moisture content.

The invention provides an extrudable batter for use in providing a shelf-stable, ready-to-eat high-fiber food product. The batter comprises a select amount of a powdered fiber, at least one fat component chosen from an oil and a shortening, the shortening having a solid fat content of about 2% to about 30% at ambient temperature, a humectant, a sweetener, a leavening agent and water. The resultant uncooked batter is flourless and gluten-free and is extrudable in a continuous form. The ready-to-eat high-fiber food product produced by such batter contains about 5 grams or more of fiber per serving and substantially maintains, before and after being baked, a desired shape, structure and moisture content.