Patent ID: 6602536
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: A23L,A23P,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for making a puffed snack product from a bulk amount of food starch material having a puffed starch material body in a generally regular perimetrical shape with opposed upper and lower surfaces, wherein at least one of the upper and lower surfaces has a substantially wavy contour appearing as though individual kernels of grain are joined to one another, the process comprising:providing a puffing chamber having inner surfaces and a chamber volume which permits unconstrained total volumetric expansion of the food starch material to produce a food starch material product; placing a bulk amount of the food starch material into the puffing chamber; initiating a volumetric expansion of the bulk amount of food starch material; and during the remainder of the puffing process constraining the bulk amount of food starch from full expansion in at least a first dimension, while permitting substantially full expansion of the bulk amount in at least a second dimension.