Apparatus and method for preparing a puffed food product. At least one profood item is placed within a compartment defining a sealed enclosure. The profood item comprises a shell, and an interior contained within the shell, the interior comprising a foodstuff comprising at least one starch, and a liquid adapted to form a vapor when subjected to heating. The pressure in the compartment is rapidly reduced with a pressure device, while heating the compartment, until the profood item reaches breakage threshold conditions at reduced breakage temperature, causing a rupturing of the shell, inducing a sudden release of the vapor at a high pressure, resulting in puffing of the starch to produce the puffed food product. The reduced breakage temperature may be in the range of 200-220° C. The pressure reduction may take place in less than 1 second. The puffing process duration may be in the range of 6-7 seconds.

Apparatus and method for preparing a puffed food product. At least one profood item is placed within a compartment defining a sealed enclosure. The profood item comprises a shell, and an interior contained within the shell, the interior comprising a foodstuff comprising at least one starch, and a liquid adapted to form a vapor when subjected to heating. The pressure in the compartment is rapidly reduced with a pressure device, while heating the compartment, until the profood item reaches breakage threshold conditions at reduced breakage temperature, causing a rupturing of the shell, inducing a sudden release of the vapor at a high pressure, resulting in puffing of the starch to produce the puffed food product. The reduced breakage temperature may be in the range of 200-220° C. The pressure reduction may take place in less than 1 second. The puffing process duration may be in the range of 6-7 seconds.

A commodity delivery and microwave system for a popcorn vending machine includes: a storage rack, adapted to mount popcorn kernel packages, an opening configured on a lower side of the storage rack, the opening allowing the popcorn kernel package to be moved out therethrough; a delivering device, configured below the storage rack, and adapted to push the popcorn kernel package out of the storage rack and send the popcorn kernel package into a microwave heating device; and the microwave heating device, configured beside the storage rack and including a support bracket, the support bracket configured with a microwave heater having a side door corresponding to storage rack and an open bottom, a door opening and closing device configured on the microwave heater and adapted to open or close the side door, a lower cover plate coupled pivotally to the support bracket.

A process of forming a crispy pressed snack includes combining at least one expandable plant product having a pre-gelled starch with a plurality of inclusions to form a mixture. The process also includes pressing the mixture together in a mold while applying heat at a temperature less than 220° C. to the mold to steam-cook the inclusions and cook the pre-gelled starch in the expandable plant product. The process further includes expanding the mold to reduce the pressure in the mold, thereby expanding the expandable plant product and forming the crispy pressed snack. A crispy pressed snack includes a mixture including an expanded plant product and pieces of at least one steamed low-starch vegetable. The steamed low-starch vegetable is present at about 10% to about 20%, by weight of the mixture. A starch of the expanded plant product holds the mixture together.

A process of forming a crispy pressed snack includes combining at least one expandable plant product having a pre-gelled starch with a plurality of inclusions to form a mixture. The process also includes pressing the mixture together in a mold while applying heat at a temperature less than 220° C. to the mold to steam-cook the inclusions and cook the pre-gelled starch in the expandable plant product. The process further includes expanding the mold to reduce the pressure in the mold, thereby expanding the expandable plant product and forming the crispy pressed snack. A crispy pressed snack includes a mixture including an expanded plant product and pieces of at least one steamed low-starch vegetable. The steamed low-starch vegetable is present at about 10% to about 20%, by weight of the mixture. A starch of the expanded plant product holds the mixture together.

An aerated food product includes a base ingredient, a protein and a liquid and, in some instances, a carbohydrate source. The base ingredient may include a whole grain source, a fiber source, a fruit source, a vegetable source, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the product has a moisture content in the range of about 1% to about 5%. In one embodiment, the product has a density in the range of about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.50 g/cc. In some embodiments the product has a porosity in the range of about 15% to about 65%. In some embodiments, the product has a texture hardness in the range of about 1 kg to about 7 kg.

A puffed food composition having crispy texture, unlikely to stick to teeth, and exhibiting suppressed astringent taste is provided. The puffed food composition includes an edible plant, 3 mass % or more of insoluble dietary fibers, 5 mass % or more of starch, and 4 mass % or more of protein. The particle size d60 of particles in a dispersion liquid of the puffed food composition after disturbance is 0.3 to 1,000 μm, the maximum particle size of particles in a dispersion liquid of the puffed food composition before disturbance is 200 μm or more, and the minimum differential value is −100 kN/m.sup.2% or less.

A puffed food composition having crispy texture, unlikely to stick to teeth, and exhibiting suppressed astringent taste is provided. The puffed food composition includes an edible plant, 3 mass % or more of insoluble dietary fibers, 5 mass % or more of starch, and 4 mass % or more of protein. The particle size d60 of particles in a dispersion liquid of the puffed food composition after disturbance is 0.3 to 1,000 μm, the maximum particle size of particles in a dispersion liquid of the puffed food composition before disturbance is 200 μm or more, and the minimum differential value is −100 kN/m.sup.2% or less.

A method of manufacturing a popcorn-based snack product includes mixing a binder syrup; mixing the binder syrup with popcorn to form a dough; forming the dough into a slab; baking the slab; and forming the slab into a plurality of portions. The baking step may be performed before or after the slab is formed into the plurality of portions. The binder syrup includes about 52.0-52.5% by weight tapioca syrup; about 23.5-24.5% by weight tapioca fiber; and about 3.5-5.0% by weight gum Arabic.

A method of manufacturing a popcorn-based snack product includes mixing a binder syrup; mixing the binder syrup with popcorn to form a dough; forming the dough into a slab; baking the slab; and forming the slab into a plurality of portions. The baking step may be performed before or after the slab is formed into the plurality of portions. The binder syrup includes about 52.0-52.5% by weight tapioca syrup; about 23.5-24.5% by weight tapioca fiber; and about 3.5-5.0% by weight gum Arabic.