Devices, systems, and methods for extruding clean-meat materials

A method of producing a food product, the method comprising:

• providing at least one extruder system, each of the at least one extruder systems comprising:
• a barrel having a barrel width structured to contain and pass an extrudable material,
• a piston assembly comprising a piston structured to fit at least partially within the barrel, the piston assembly configured to push the extrudable material through the barrel upon activation, and
• a body disposed within the barrel between the extrudable material and the piston, wherein the body comprises a first planar end and an opposing second planar end, the first planar end being substantially parallel to the second planar end, and a lip extending radially from the body at the second planar end to define an edge, the edge defining a first width and the lip comprising a resilient material,
• wherein the body supports the lip enabling the edge of the lip to flex, the first width is substantially equivalent to the barrel width, and when inward pressure is applied to an extrudable material positioned within the barrel by movement of the piston, a vortex is created within the extrudable material flowing in a direction of an extrusion die attached to an extrusion end of the barrel;
• placing a food-based material in a feed end of the barrel of the extruder system;
• placing the body in the feed end of the barrel such that the body is behind the food-based material relative to the extrusion end of the barrel;
• applying a force to the first planar end of the body to extrude the food-based material from an end of the barrel through the extrusion die to activate thixotropy of the material;
• and
• generating the vortex toward the extrusion die within the barrel such that, when forces applied to the food-based material are released due to the food-based material exiting the extrusion die to result in an extruded product, an internal structural image is present in the extruded product such that when sliced, the extruded product is shaped to simulate marbling of meat derived from a natural animal.