Patent ID: 6387429
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: A23L,A23P,B29C

Abstract:
A method of processing a food product comprising the steps of:passing said product including a protein or starch-bearing food ingredient in serial order through an extruder and a die assembly to yield an extruded product, said extruder comprising an elongated, tubular barrel having an outlet end with at least one elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted screw within the barrel, said die assembly including an elongated, tubular body operatively coupled to said barrel adjacent the outlet end thereof, and an apertured die coupled to said body adjacent the end thereof remote from said extruder said die presenting a die opening therethrough which is substantially smaller in maximum cross-sectional area than the minimum cross-sectional area presented by said tubular body; and during said passing step, rotating said screw at a rate of at least about 300 rpm, and causing said product to experience a retention time ratio of die assembly retention time to extruder retention time of at least about 5.