Cocoa or cinnamon is mixed at least one enzyme to form a mixture, and the mixture is combined with a cereal food composition. In one embodiment, the cereal food composition is extruded or otherwise formed into a plurality of cereal pieces after the mixture is combined with the food composition. In another embodiment, the mixture is coated onto cereal pieces formed from the food composition. Preferably, the at least one enzyme includes at least two carbohydrases, and can also include soluble fiber enzymes, and even one or more fat soluble enzymes. In each case, the at least one enzyme is deactivated, either during working of the cocoa or cinnamon after combining with the cereal food composition or prior to the mixture being combined with the cereal food composition.

Product formulations and methods of preparing products having a texture, flavor, and/or nutrition profile similar to meat jerky, with the primary protein source including or being a plant-based protein source.

Product formulations and methods of preparing products having a texture, flavor, and/or nutrition profile similar to meat jerky, with the primary protein source including or being a plant-based protein source.

A computer numerically controlled flow resistance system based on container features and properties of food ingredients comprises a mixing chamber, a stirring element, a pushing plate and a resetting element. The mixing chamber is communicated to sources of food ingredients of various colors, and the stirring element is disposed in the mixing chamber for stirring the food ingredients of various colors, so that the food ingredients after mixing have a desired color. The pushing plate is used to extrude the stirred food ingredients in the mixing chamber to a pastry tip of a pastry extrusion head. The resetting element makes a piston cylinder move to an extruding position according to an extrusion signal of a controller, and when the pushing plate stops displacing, the resetting element makes the piston cylinder move to a flow resistance position according to a flow resistance signal of the controller.

A computer numerically controlled flow resistance system based on container features and properties of food ingredients comprises a mixing chamber, a stirring element, a pushing plate and a resetting element. The mixing chamber is communicated to sources of food ingredients of various colors, and the stirring element is disposed in the mixing chamber for stirring the food ingredients of various colors, so that the food ingredients after mixing have a desired color. The pushing plate is used to extrude the stirred food ingredients in the mixing chamber to a pastry tip of a pastry extrusion head. The resetting element makes a piston cylinder move to an extruding position according to an extrusion signal of a controller, and when the pushing plate stops displacing, the resetting element makes the piston cylinder move to a flow resistance position according to a flow resistance signal of the controller.

A co-extruded, dual-texture animal food is provided. The food has a dry outer portion partially surrounding a semi-moist inner portion. The inner portion has a higher or similar moisture content and a softer texture compared to the outer portion which has a lower moisture content and harder texture. The outer portion comprises cereal grain and a legume at about 75-85% of the weight of the outer portion, and an animal-based protein contributing to about 5-10% of the weight or more of the outer portion. The inner portion has animal-derived grease mixed with lactic acid at about 3% by weight of the inner portion, along with at least one meat comprising at least 3% by weight of the inner portion. The composition inhibits moisture transference within and between individual pieces of the food. The food is shelf stable and the inner and outer portions retain their hardness and moisture profiles, post-packaging.

A co-extruded, dual-texture animal food is provided. The food has a dry outer portion partially surrounding a semi-moist inner portion. The inner portion has a higher or similar moisture content and a softer texture compared to the outer portion which has a lower moisture content and harder texture. The outer portion comprises cereal grain and a legume at about 75-85% of the weight of the outer portion, and an animal-based protein contributing to about 5-10% of the weight or more of the outer portion. The inner portion has animal-derived grease mixed with lactic acid at about 3% by weight of the inner portion, along with at least one meat comprising at least 3% by weight of the inner portion. The composition inhibits moisture transference within and between individual pieces of the food. The food is shelf stable and the inner and outer portions retain their hardness and moisture profiles, post-packaging.

A high moisture extrusion apparatus suitable for manufacturing foodstuffs is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes an extruder barrel having an inlet port for input of a first material into the extruder barrel, an injection port for input of a second material into the extruder barrel, and an outlet port for output of a combination of the first and second material from the extruder barrel. The injection port is located intermediate to the inlet and outlet port, and closer to the outlet port than the inlet port.

A high moisture extrusion apparatus suitable for manufacturing foodstuffs is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes an extruder barrel having an inlet port for input of a first material into the extruder barrel, an injection port for input of a second material into the extruder barrel, and an outlet port for output of a combination of the first and second material from the extruder barrel. The injection port is located intermediate to the inlet and outlet port, and closer to the outlet port than the inlet port.

A processing aid for an extrudable food composition includes from about 60% to about 99% by weight of at least one edible emulsifier and from about 1% to about 40% by weight of a short chain carboxylic acid. The extrudable food composition may include from about 80% to about 90% by weight of a raw material; from about 1% to about 18% by weight added moisture; from about 0.1% to about 3% of a processing aid, wherein the processing aid includes at least one edible emulsifier and at least one short chain carboxylic acid. The raw material is selected from one or more of corn meal, whole grain corn meal, rice, whole grain flour, rice pea, brown rice, wheat flour, whole wheat flour, pea flour, black bean, pinto bean flour, potato flour, and mixtures thereof.