Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus and method for forming an open textured food product, comprising an extruder and an extruder die. The extruder is provided to receive an extrudable food material, to advance that material longitudinally forward while heating and pressurizing the food material, and to force the heated and pressurized food material outward through an extruder outlet. The extruder die is connected to the extruder immediately forward of the extruder outlet, and the die forms an inlet to receive the pressurized food material from the extruder outlet, an expansion chamber to receive the pressurized food material from the extruder die inlet wherein the food material expands to a predetermined width, and an outlet to discharge the expanded food material from the extruder die. The expansion chamber laterally extends at least substantially to that predetermined width immediately forward of the extruder die inlet so that as the food material expands in the expansion chamber, an open texture is formed throughout the interior of the expanded material and the food material is expanded into a self-maintaining shape.

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First Claim