Supercritical fluid extrusion process and apparatus

A supercritical fluid extrusion process for the continuous production of a starch-containing product comprising:

• supplying starch-containing ingredients for a product to a continuous extruder;
• mixing said ingredients within said extruder to produce a dough;
• continuously advancing said dough through said extruder toward an exit die;
• cooking said dough in said extruder in the presence of steam or water;
• injecting supercritical CO.sub.2 into said extruder to enhance the dextrinization of the starch in said dough;
• expanding and forming a hollow core in said dough by the release of said supercritical CO.sub.2 as the dough is ejected from said extruder through an exit die;
• and
• coextruding a filler into said hollow core to produce a filled product.

A supercritical fluid extrusion process for the continuous production of bread or bread-like products, comprising:

• supplying ingredients for a bread or bread-like product to a continuous extruder;
• mixing said ingredients in said extruder to form a dough;
• advancing said dough through said extruder toward an exit die;
• kneading said dough in said extruder;
• proofing said dough in said extruder, said proofing including injecting supercritical gas into said dough as said dough advances through said extruder;
• and
• causing said dough to rise by extruding said dough through said exit die to enable said supercritical gas to expand within the dough.