Patent ID: 8318229

Claim:
A method for producing snack product pieces having a random curvature and a bulk density, said method comprising the steps of: a) feeding snack product pre-forms into a fryer having fryer oil; b) submerging for a pre-determined time in said fryer oil said snack product pre-forms using a contoured submerger having at least two contours wherein each contour has a cross-sectional shape, a contour height, and a contour spacing; c) giving a random curvature to said snack product pre-forms using said contoured submerger; d) frying said snack product pre-forms to a desired moisture content in at least two submerged layers to form snack product pieces, wherein said at least two layers are formed on said contoured submerger, further wherein said pieces maintain said random curvature; and, e) moving said snack product pieces from said fryer.