Extruded meat-based snack food and method for prearing same
AssigneeKansas State University Research Foundation
InventorsFrank E. Cunningham, Paul E. Neumann, Gordon R. Huber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high protein, shelf-stable, meat-containing snack product is provided which is in the form of a cellular, expanded extrudate which can be dried and flavored to yield nutritional snacks having excellent organoleptic properties. The final snack contains at least about 5% by weight meat (most preferably mechanically deboned poultry meat), and at least about 50% by weight wheat. The invention also comprehends a fabrication method wherein an initial mixture containing at least about 15% by weight meat and at least about 50% by weight wheat flour are mixed and passed through an extruder under time and temperature conditions to yield an expanded, cellular extrudate having the general appearance of a bread stick.
Claims28
A method of fabricating a meat-based snack food product, comprising the steps of:
- forming a mixture including at least about 5% by weight meat, at least about 50% by weight wheat flour and a total fat content of up to about 4% by weight;
- passing said mixture into and through an extruder equipped with a flighted internal screw and an endmost die, and, during such passage, subjecting the mixture to a temperature of up to about 280.degree. F. and superatmospheric pressures of up to about 2500 psig;
- and
- extruding said mixture through said endmost die to form an expanded, cellular extrudate having an as-extruded fat content of up to about 4% by weight.
The method of claim said extrudate having a specific gravity of from about 0.08-0.15.
The method of claim said extrudate having a bulk density of from about 5-9 pounds per cubic foot.
The method of claim said extrudate having a total fat content of from about 0-20% by weight.
An extruded snack product comprising an expanded cellular body defined by an multitude of cell-defining walls, the material making up said walls including at least about 5% by weight meat and at least 50% by weight wheat, said body having a specific gravity of from about 0.08 to 0.15, a bulk density of from about 5 to 9 pounds per cubic foot, an Instron compressibility rating of from about 1-5 Kg of force, and a total as-extruded fat content of up to about 4% by weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.