Disclosed is a method for producing crispy, puffed cheese snacks made entirely of, or primarily of, cheese. The method uses a sequential process to produce cheese snacks with excellent taste, smoother surface and mouthfeel, delicate crunch, and minimal breakage during packaging and shipping. The method can also be used to produce cheese powders.

Apparatus and methods for making puffed food products are disclosed. Embodiments of the innovative process may include two or more cycles of compression, baking, and expansion to convert raw ingredients into at least one intermediate food product before yielding a final food product. An exemplary apparatus for making such food products may include a control unit coupled to a driving system, a raw material supply system, and at least one heatable mold having at least one movable mold element connected to the driving system. The control unit may electronically control the raw material supply system to input ingredients into the heatable mold and cause the driving system to position the at least one moveable mold element to achieve the multiple cycles of compression, baking, and expansion.

Apparatus and methods for making puffed food products are disclosed. Embodiments of the innovative process may include two or more cycles of compression, baking, and expansion to convert raw ingredients into at least one intermediate food product before yielding a final food product. An exemplary apparatus for making such food products may include a control unit coupled to a driving system, a raw material supply system, and at least one heatable mold having at least one movable mold element connected to the driving system. The control unit may electronically control the raw material supply system to input ingredients into the heatable mold and cause the driving system to position the at least one moveable mold element to achieve the multiple cycles of compression, baking, and expansion.

A machine for preparing snacks comprises a source of compressed gas (CA) and pneumatic actuators (100.sub.1, 200.sub.1, 100.sub.2, 200.sub.2) for causing displacements among an upper mould plate (UP), a lower mould plate (LP) and an intermediate mould plate (IP). The pneumatic actuators (100.sub.1, 200.sub.1, 100.sub.2, 200.sub.2), comprise a compression pneumatic-cylinder (100.sub.1, 100.sub.2) having a plunger (102) delimits a first and second chambers (A, B) having variable volume. The second chamber (B) is connected with the source of compressed gas (CA) via a first duct (L.sub.1, La.sub.1, La.sub.2), the first chamber (A) is connectable to the second chamber (B) through a second duct (SLa, SLb), and the first chamber (A) is also connected to the second chamber (B) via a third duct (EL). A flow-regulator device (FR.sub.1, FR.sub.2) is set on the second duct (SLa, SLb), and a shut-off member (CV.sub.1, CV.sub.2) is set on the third duct (EL).

A machine for preparing snacks comprises a source of compressed gas (CA) and pneumatic actuators (100.sub.1, 200.sub.1, 100.sub.2, 200.sub.2) for causing displacements among an upper mould plate (UP), a lower mould plate (LP) and an intermediate mould plate (IP). The pneumatic actuators (100.sub.1, 200.sub.1, 100.sub.2, 200.sub.2), comprise a compression pneumatic-cylinder (100.sub.1, 100.sub.2) having a plunger (102) delimits a first and second chambers (A, B) having variable volume. The second chamber (B) is connected with the source of compressed gas (CA) via a first duct (L.sub.1, La.sub.1, La.sub.2), the first chamber (A) is connectable to the second chamber (B) through a second duct (SLa, SLb), and the first chamber (A) is also connected to the second chamber (B) via a third duct (EL). A flow-regulator device (FR.sub.1, FR.sub.2) is set on the second duct (SLa, SLb), and a shut-off member (CV.sub.1, CV.sub.2) is set on the third duct (EL).

There is provided a double-compression, pneumatic-driven popping apparatus for making chip-like snack foods. The apparatus includes a first and second popping machine sections, each having a pneumatic-driven compression cylinder; and a mold plate coupled to the pneumatic cylinder and responsive to urging of the first pneumatic cylinder. A ring mold is located between the first and second machine sections and is subjected to compression by the first mold plate and the second mold plate. The apparatus has a pneumatic drive system including a compressed gas vessel, and a controller configured to control the pneumatic-driven compression cylinders independently through fast-acting control valves. During use, the apparatus applies pneumatic double-compression in a controlled manner such that a time interval between the first and the second compression steps is in the range of milliseconds, to produce a chip-like snack food product.

There is provided a double-compression, pneumatic-driven popping apparatus for making chip-like snack foods. The apparatus includes a first and second popping machine sections, each having a pneumatic-driven compression cylinder; and a mold plate coupled to the pneumatic cylinder and responsive to urging of the first pneumatic cylinder. A ring mold is located between the first and second machine sections and is subjected to compression by the first mold plate and the second mold plate. The apparatus has a pneumatic drive system including a compressed gas vessel, and a controller configured to control the pneumatic-driven compression cylinders independently through fast-acting control valves. During use, the apparatus applies pneumatic double-compression in a controlled manner such that a time interval between the first and the second compression steps is in the range of milliseconds, to produce a chip-like snack food product.