A heat-coagulated protein processed food product obtained by continuously heat-coagulating and molding a mixture that includes a protein, a lipid, and moisture and has fluidity, by an internal heating method while the mixture is moved within a cylinder having a heating part, and a non-heating part following on from the heating part, is dynamically cut with a cutting blade to form plural noodle-shaped bodies, and the plural noodle-shaped bodies after the cutting cohere with each other at surfaces along a longitudinal direction of the noodle-shaped bodies.

A snack bar is produced in accordance with a method employing an extrusion apparatus to include a base or crust, a primary filling provided on the base and a second filling or topping embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling. The primary and secondary fillings are co-extruded, with an extrusion nozzle for the secondary filling being located directly adjacent an extrusion port for the primary filling. The primary filling is non-flowable, while the secondary filling is preferably flowable. The extrusion nozzle can be repositioned either between or during extrusion operations to alter a repeating pattern for the secondary filling.

A snack bar is produced in accordance with a method employing an extrusion apparatus to include a base or crust, a primary filling provided on the base and a second filling or topping embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling. The primary and secondary fillings are co-extruded, with an extrusion nozzle for the secondary filling being located directly adjacent an extrusion port for the primary filling. The primary filling is non-flowable, while the secondary filling is preferably flowable. The extrusion nozzle can be repositioned either between or during extrusion operations to alter a repeating pattern for the secondary filling.

A low profile water bath co-extrusion process for sausage manufacturing is disclosed, along with machines for accomplishing this process. The process is an automated assembly line which begins with co-extruded food product, such as a sausage emulsion coated with collagen and finishes with cooked, boxed, packaged link sausage. The process includes the steps of co-extrusion, linking and cutting the co-extruded food product to individual links. Following these steps and prior to a liquid smoking step, the casing is prepared by steps which includes chemical treatment of the individual links in a water bath, while dehydrating the product in a salt solution, the water bath being a two-part process and following the water bath using a forced hot air drying step. Machines disclosed include a modification of prior art screw driven water bath and a novel roller/conveyor forced hot air drying assembly that subjects individual links of a co-extruded food product to a rolling motion while simultaneously being transported horizontally and being subject to forced hot air drying.

A snack bar is produced in accordance with a method employing an extrusion apparatus to include a base or crust, a primary filling provided on the base and a second filling or topping embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling. The primary and secondary fillings are co-extruded, with an extrusion nozzle for the secondary filling being located directly adjacent an extrusion port for the primary filling. The primary filling is non-flowable, while the secondary filling is preferably flowable. The extrusion nozzle can be repositioned either between or during extrusion operations to alter a repeating pattern for the secondary filling.

A snack bar is produced in accordance with a method employing an extrusion apparatus to include a base or crust, a primary filling provided on the base and a second filling or topping embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling. The primary and secondary fillings are co-extruded, with an extrusion nozzle for the secondary filling being located directly adjacent an extrusion port for the primary filling. The primary filling is non-flowable, while the secondary filling is preferably flowable. The extrusion nozzle can be repositioned either between or during extrusion operations to alter a repeating pattern for the secondary filling.

In some embodiments the present technology is directed to a system for dosing and mixing ingredients in a High Moisture Extrusion process, the system comprising: an extruder to mix ingredients to turn them into a protein extrudate, a cooling die to cool the protein extrudate and to cool an enhanced extrudate with ingredients added after the extruder, an interim plate connecting the extruder and the cooling die, to add and mix further ingredients, and facilitate movement of the protein extrudate and the enhanced extrudate into the cooling die, the interim plate further comprising one or more interim plate inlets to allow the entry of the protein extrudate from the extruder into the interim plate, and one or more dosing inlets for adding new ingredients to the protein extrudate that exits the extruder and enters the interim plate.

In some embodiments the present technology is directed to a system for dosing and mixing ingredients in a High Moisture Extrusion process, the system comprising: an extruder to mix ingredients to turn them into a protein extrudate, a cooling die to cool the protein extrudate and to cool an enhanced extrudate with ingredients added after the extruder, an interim plate connecting the extruder and the cooling die, to add and mix further ingredients, and facilitate movement of the protein extrudate and the enhanced extrudate into the cooling die, the interim plate further comprising one or more interim plate inlets to allow the entry of the protein extrudate from the extruder into the interim plate, and one or more dosing inlets for adding new ingredients to the protein extrudate that exits the extruder and enters the interim plate.

A method of producing coated microcapsules comprises the steps of producing microcapsules by cold gelation having a denatured or hydrolysed protein matrix and an active agent contained within the matrix, and drying the microcapsules. A meltable coating composition comprising wax and oil and configured to have a melting point of about 70° C. to about 100° C. is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the meltable coating composition to melt the meltable coating composition, and the microcapsules are coated with the melted meltable coating composition

A method of producing coated microcapsules comprises the steps of producing microcapsules by cold gelation having a denatured or hydrolysed protein matrix and an active agent contained within the matrix, and drying the microcapsules. A meltable coating composition comprising wax and oil and configured to have a melting point of about 70° C. to about 100° C. is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the meltable coating composition to melt the meltable coating composition, and the microcapsules are coated with the melted meltable coating composition