In some embodiments, a food conditioning apparatus is provided and comprises a heating chamber configured to receive food, a steam generator configured to generate steam for the chamber, at least one heating element configured to provide dry heat to the chamber and the food therein through at least one of radiation and convection, and a control system configured to automatically operate a sequence of at least two stages. At least one stage comprises the generating for the chamber during a first duration, and at least one other stage comprises providing dry heat to the chamber for a second duration.

Systems and methods for system for upcycling solid food wastes and by-products into food-grade nutritional products and the high-protein nutritional product manufactured by the systems and methods are described herein. A system for upcycling solid food wastes and by-products into food-grade nutritional products may include an extruder. The extruder may be configured to receive a raw plant-based material and continuously subject the raw plant-based material to steam flashing at predetermined temperature and predetermined pressure to sterilize the raw plant-based material, destroy antinutrients present in the raw plant-based material, cause a break up of larger cellular and subcellular units of the raw plant-based material into smaller cellular and subcellular units of the raw plant-based material to transform the raw plant-based material into a food ingredient, and reduce water content in the food ingredient.

Systems and methods for system for upcycling solid food wastes and by-products into food-grade nutritional products and the high-protein nutritional product manufactured by the systems and methods are described herein. A system for upcycling solid food wastes and by-products into food-grade nutritional products may include an extruder. The extruder may be configured to receive a raw plant-based material and continuously subject the raw plant-based material to steam flashing at predetermined temperature and predetermined pressure to sterilize the raw plant-based material, destroy antinutrients present in the raw plant-based material, cause a break up of larger cellular and subcellular units of the raw plant-based material into smaller cellular and subcellular units of the raw plant-based material to transform the raw plant-based material into a food ingredient, and reduce water content in the food ingredient.

Systems and methods for system for upcycling solid food wastes and by-products into food-grade nutritional products and the high-protein nutritional product manufactured by the systems and methods are described herein. A system for upcycling solid food wastes and by-products into food-grade nutritional products may include an extruder. The extruder may be configured to receive a raw plant-based material and continuously subject the raw plant-based material to steam flashing at predetermined temperature and predetermined pressure to sterilize the raw plant-based material, destroy antinutrients present in the raw plant-based material, cause a break up of larger cellular and subcellular units of the raw plant-based material into smaller cellular and subcellular units of the raw plant-based material to transform the raw plant-based material into a food ingredient, and reduce water content in the food ingredient.

A beverage and snack consumption enhancing lid. The lid includes at least one of a snack receiving receptacle and at least one beverage flavoring capsule receptacle. A snack ejector is installed or integrated into the snack receiving receptacle. A snack is packaged within the snack receiving receptacle and retained therein by a snack cover. A beverage flavoring capsule is placed in each at least one beverage flavoring capsule receptacle and retained therein by a seal. The snack cover can multi-function as the capsule seal. The snack ejector would raise the snack from the snack receptacle when the cover is opened. The capsule can be compressed against a piercing element integrated into the capsule receptacle. Flavoring from within the capsule would be dispensed into the beverage to enhance the beverage flavor.