An improved rotary head extruder has at least one rotatable auger disposed within a single barrel and having an upstream end and a downstream end. The extruder has a die assembly that includes (i) a stator having a stator head at the downstream end of the at least one rotatable auger and a stationary plate surrounding an outlet end of the stator downstream from the single barrel and (ii) a rotatable plate downstream and spaced apart from the stationary plate to define a die gap. The apparatus includes a heating mechanism to maintain, within a predefined temperature range, one or more of the temperature of the die assembly or an extrudable composition disposed in the die gap.

The present invention belongs to the field of the food industry, in particular to the production of appetizer or snack products. Specifically, it refers to a healthy appetizer product based on nuts with a novel texture, its method of preparation and its use.

The present specification provides fruit and vegetable products. Also described are methods for producing the fruit and vegetable products.

An object of the present invention is to provide a konnyaku product in which scum causing smell and unpleasant taste is effectively reduced and that does not require a pretreatment for removing them, a production method therefor, and an alkaline coagulant suitable for the production of such a konnyaku. The object can be achieved by using, as an alkaline coagulant for konnyaku production, an alkaline solution containing non-reducing sugar, calcium hydroxide as an alkaline component for coagulation, and water, in which the non-reducing sugar and the calcium hydroxide are dissolved in the water.

An object of the present invention is to provide a konnyaku product in which scum causing smell and unpleasant taste is effectively reduced and that does not require a pretreatment for removing them, a production method therefor, and an alkaline coagulant suitable for the production of such a konnyaku. The object can be achieved by using, as an alkaline coagulant for konnyaku production, an alkaline solution containing non-reducing sugar, calcium hydroxide as an alkaline component for coagulation, and water, in which the non-reducing sugar and the calcium hydroxide are dissolved in the water.

Apparatus and methods for making puffed food products are disclosed. In one implementation, an innovative process may include improved configurations and control of hydraulic drive cylinder(s) to more swiftly and precisely apply pressures to heatable mold elements during production of puffed food products. According to one particular implementation, in order to drive a first hydraulic piston to move at least one movable mold element to a desired position, a second hydraulic piston may be first positioned to set up an adjustable hard-stop based on the desired position, such that the first hydraulic piston may rapidly drive the moveable mold element to stop at precisely the desired position.

The invention relates to method and a device for preparing a carbohydrate and/or protein product by subjecting a carbohydrate and/or protein to a heat treatment after a few ingredients have been added.

The invention relates to method and a device for preparing a carbohydrate and/or protein product by subjecting a carbohydrate and/or protein to a heat treatment after a few ingredients have been added.

Popcorn machines having easily removable popping kettle assemblies are described herein. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine configured accordance with the present technology includes a cabinet and a pair of kettle supports mounted within the cabinet. A kettle assembly is configured to be positioned on the kettle supports and to pop popcorn placed in a kettle of the kettle assembly when the kettle assembly is in a popping position, and to discharge the popcorn when the kettle assembly is moved from the popping position to a dumping position. The kettle assembly can be lifted off the kettle supports in the popping position to facilitate removal of the kettle assembly from the cabinet for maintenance, cleaning, repair, replacement, etc. In some embodiments, the kettle assembly can be stopped in the dumping position.

Popcorn machines having easily removable popping kettle assemblies are described herein. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine configured accordance with the present technology includes a cabinet and a pair of kettle supports mounted within the cabinet. A kettle assembly is configured to be positioned on the kettle supports and to pop popcorn placed in a kettle of the kettle assembly when the kettle assembly is in a popping position, and to discharge the popcorn when the kettle assembly is moved from the popping position to a dumping position. The kettle assembly can be lifted off the kettle supports in the popping position to facilitate removal of the kettle assembly from the cabinet for maintenance, cleaning, repair, replacement, etc. In some embodiments, the kettle assembly can be stopped in the dumping position.