Preparing cheese having longitudinal fibrous texture
OwnerMatthew Meyerinventor
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Abstract
In a process and apparatus for manufacturing an elongated cheese product, the extrusion of a heated mass of cheese is followed by a subsequent pulling or tensing of the extruded strand which develops a fibrous texture in the product and reduces the size of the strand. The pulling is carried out on a continuous basis by a tension applying device, downstream of the extruder, which may comprise a pair of drums around which the cheese strand is wrapped. The strand then passes down a cooling vat under tension from a second tension applying device which retains the properties of the strand as it cools. The second tension applying means may include pairs of driven rollers through which the cheese strand passes. After the pulling and cooling, the strand is cut in lengths suitable for packaging.
Claims19
A process for manufacturing a cheese product having defined longitudinal fibrous texture properties from a cheese capable of forming a fibrous texture when stretched, said process comprising the steps of:
- extruding a continuous strand of heated cheese;
- continuously applying a longitudinal pulling force to the continuous strand after extrusion to induce longitudinal fibrous texture properties in the heated strand and reduce the cross-sectional size of the strand;
- and
- cooling the strand at least after applying the longitudinal pulling force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.