Extrusion molded snack product

Abstract

The present invention relates to an extruded protein snack product for human consumption. The invention also relates to an extruder, a production line and a method for producing the snack product.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an extruded protein snack product for human consumption. The present invention also relates to an extruder, a production line and a method of producing the snack product. BACKGROUND

[0002] There is a need to provide an industrially produced snack product for human consumption, which is made of meat, cheese and / or meat substitute and which does not contain dough.

[0003] The problem of the present invention is therefore to provide an extruded protein snack product for human consumption and an extruder, a production line and a method of producing such a product. SUMMARY

[0004] The problem is solved by an extruded protein snack product for human consumption, which comprises: A. a first meat substance and / or a first meat substitute substance, and / or B. a second meat substance and / or a second meat substitute substance, wherein the first substance and the second substance differ in at least one property and are at least substantially not mixed, and / or C. cheese or a cheese ingredient, and / or D. a filling, which is wrapped by at least one of A. to C., and / or E. a topping, which is arranged on the surface of A. to C.

[0005] The disclosure in relation to the subject matter also applies to the other subject matter and vice versa. The subject matter disclosed in conjunction with the subject matter can be combined with the other subject matter and vice versa.

[0006] The present invention relates to an extruded protein snack product, which can comprise a first meat substance, preferably also a second meat substance. The meat substance can be pork, beef, chicken, lamb or any other meat. The first meat substance and / or the second meat substance is preferably minced meat. The first meat substance and / or the second meat substance can also comprise or be made of insects, preferably ground insects and / or fish, preferably ground fish and / or cultured meat.

[0007] The snack product can be a product for human or animal consumption.

[0008] Optionally or additionally, the snack product of the present application can comprise a meat substitute. Such a meat substitute is preferably a food product made from vegetarian or vegan ingredients, preferably for consumption as a substitute for meat. Meat substitutes are usually approximating the qualities of a particular type of meat, such as taste, flavour, appearance or chemical properties. Meat substitutes are preferably plant- and / or fungus-based substances, and are usually made from soy (e.g. tofu, tempeh and textured vegetable protein), but can also be made from wheat gluten and / or pea protein.

[0009] Optionally or additionally, the snack product of the present application can comprise a cheese ingredient. The snack product of the present application can be made at least substantially from cheese, preferably entirely from cheese. The cheese ingredient can be mixed with the first substance and / or the second substance. Additionally or alternatively, the cheese ingredient can be a distinct phase in the snack product of the present application, for example a filling, which is preferably at least partially surrounded by the first substance and / or the second substance, and / or the cheese ingredient can be a topping arranged on the surface of the first substance and / or the second substance.

[0010] Optionally or additionally, the snack product of the present application can comprise a filling which is surrounded or at least partially surrounded by the first substance and / or the second substance, or a topping arranged on the surface of the first substance and / or the second substance and / or the cheese or cheese ingredient, preferably on a part of the surface. The filling / topping can be a sauce, any kind of brine and / or a jam and / or cheese and / or vegetables and / or potatoes and / or pasta. Preferably, the filling / topping has a different consistency than the first substance or the second substance, especially when it has been heated for consumption.

[0011] The protein snack product of the present application is not made from dough, and preferably does not comprise any dough, in particular a dough for the production of a baked product. In particular, the first substance and the second substance are not made from a dough substance, in particular a dough for the production of a baked product.

[0012] Inventively, the snack product is extruded to form the individual product. In particular, the first substance and / or the second substance and / or the cheese are forced through an extruder, in which the desired shape is formed. In particular, when a meat substance or a meat substitute substance is extruded, the fibres in the meat or the meat substitute are oriented, preferably along the direction of extrusion, and / or even the fibres or the length of the fibres is increased, which is especially the case for meat substitute substances. The increase in length can be due to polymerisation reactions during the extrusion process, and / or due to the expansion of the substance caused by the pressure gradient in the nozzle. This can be a fundamental difference to the dough used for baked products.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the snack product according to the invention, the first substance and the second substance differ in at least one property, preferably a property noticeable by a human consumer before or during consumption.

[0014] The property can for example be the origin of the substance, for example is it beef or pork, and / or the composition of the first substance and the second substance, the color, the texture of the substance, the fiber length, the fiber orientation and / or the flavor composition.

[0015] Preferably, the first substance and the second substance are arranged adjacent to each other, more preferably two or more adjacent portions, for example in a chessboard pattern. The individual portions are in contact with each other and the two adjacent portions are connected, however are visually, taste-wise and / or texture-wise distinguishable.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first substance and the second substance is twisted during extrusion. The twisting can occur within one of the first substance or the second substance. However, the first substance and the second substance can also be twisted around each other.

[0017] Preferably, the extrusion-formed protein snack product is ring-shaped, polygonal, bar-shaped, disc-shaped, spherical and / or plate-shaped. The extrusion-formed snack product can be braided. The extrusion-formed product can be shaped, preferably pressed, into a certain shape after extrusion. For example, a cylindrical extrusion-formed product can be pressed into a spherical shape.

[0018] Preferably, the extrusion-formed protein snack comprises at least one coating. The coating can be a protein product and / or a flour. Preferably, the coating occurs after extrusion and before further processing steps such as cooking, frying, etc.

[0019] The problem is also solved by an extruder for producing an extrusion-formed protein snack product according to one of the preceding claims and comprising at least one hopper and a pump and a nozzle.

[0020] The disclosure with respect to the subject matter also applies to the other subject matter and vice versa. The subject matter disclosed in connection with the subject matter can be combined with the other subject matter and vice versa.

[0021] The subject of the invention relates to an extruder which in particular makes a first meat substance and / or a second meat substance into a strand having a desired shape. The individual strands are combined into a single product. In particular, the first substance and / or the second substance and / or cheese are forced through an extruder in which the desired shape, in particular the desired cross-section, is formed. In particular, in the case of extrusion of a meat substance or a meat substitute substance, the fibres in the meat or meat substitute are oriented, preferably in the direction of extrusion, and / or even increase in length of the fibres, which is particularly the case with meat substitute substances. The increase in length can be due to polymerisation reactions during the extrusion process and / or due to the expansion of the substance as a result of the pressure gradient in the nozzle. This can be a fundamental difference from the dough used for bakery products.

[0022] Preferably, the extruder comprises at least two hoppers (5), two pumps (7) and a nozzle (8). Each container preferably contains a substance which differs from the substance in the other hopper in at least one property, for example its ingredients, its colour and / or its flavour and / or its texture. Downstream of each hopper, a pump is preferably provided which delivers the substance to the nozzle. Each pump can preferably be controlled individually to provide a certain pressure and / or volumetric flow. The pumps can for example be positive displacement pumps or two rotating wheels, on the circumference of which grooves are preferably provided along the axial direction of the wheel.

[0023] A third hopper or a fourth hopper can contain a filling and / or a topping. Preferably, a pump is also assigned to each of these hoppers, which is preferably individually controllable. The pump preferably feeds the filling and / or the topping to a separate nozzle which injects the filling into the substance strand and / or places the topping on top of the substance.

[0024] The nozzle on the extruder which receives the substances is preferably a co-extrusion nozzle which co-extrudes at least two substances and combines these two substances into a single product.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outlet of the co-extrusion nozzle is: - two or more concentric rings, or - two or more parallel rectangular or square outlets, and / or - two or more parts of a rectangular or circular disc.

[0026] Preferably, the nozzle, in particular the co-extrusion nozzle, is movable and / or rotatable in at least one horizontal and / or vertical direction. The nozzle can for example be moved in a horizontal plane in order to produce a ring-shaped protein snack product. In the case of a twisting of the nozzle about for example a vertical axis, a twisted product is produced.

[0027] The inner surface and / or the outlet of the nozzle can comprise recesses and / or protrusions, preferably in the extrusion direction of the product, to achieve a specific optical appearance of the surface of the rope. The recesses and / or protrusions preferably also result in an improved orientation of the fibers in the mass and / or a change in the length of the fibers.

[0028] Preferably, the extruder comprises an injection nozzle to inject a filling or a topping into or on top of the mass. The nozzle providing the filling is preferably located between two ropes of the mass and / or upstream of the extrusion nozzle. The nozzle providing the topping is preferably located downstream of the extrusion nozzle and / or downstream of a cutting device that cuts the rope into individual pieces.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the extruder comprises at least one row of adjacent nozzles that simultaneously produce a plurality of products.

[0030] The extruder provides the snack products onto a conveying device, such as a tray or a ring belt, which conveys the products in a conveying direction to the next processing step. The simultaneously produced products are adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveying device can be moved or stationary during the production of the snack products.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extruder comprises a cutting device for cutting the rope extruded by the nozzle into a certain length. Preferably, the cutting device cuts the fibers of the meat and / or the meat substitute mass. The cutting device is preferably arranged downstream of the nozzle.

[0032] The problem is also solved by a production line comprising the extruder of the present invention and at least one of the following devices: a wet coater, a dry coater, a fryer, a steamer, a freezer and a packer, each device being arranged downstream of the extruder.

[0033] What is disclosed with respect to the present subject matter also applies to the other subject matter and vice versa. The subject matter disclosed in connection with the present subject matter can be combined with the other subject matter and vice versa.

[0034] Upstream of the extruder, the production line of the present invention can comprise a grinder, a mixer and / or a thawing machine.

[0035] The various devices of the production line are preferably connected by one or more conveying devices, preferably by a ring belt. Preferably, the production line has a common control center that controls all devices of the production line.

[0036] Preferably, the production line comprises a plurality of coaters, for example, a wet coater and a dry coater.

[0037] The problem is also solved by a method for producing an extruded protein snack product, wherein at least one mass is extruded in an extruder having a nozzle and then cut by a cutting device.

[0038] The disclosure in relation to the subject matter also applies to the other subject matter and vice versa. The subject matter disclosed in conjunction with the subject matter can be combined with the other subject matter and vice versa.

[0039] Preferably, prior to cutting, the extruded mass is formed, for example, a cylindrical extruded mass is pressed into a spherical shape or formed into a ring.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the first mass and the second mass are co-extruded in an extruder, wherein the first mass and the second mass differ in at least one property. After the masses have been co-extruded, they are joined and then form one product. The masses can be co-extruded as two or more adjacent strands. However, the masses can also be co-extruded as two or more concentric strands.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the filling is injected into the mass, more preferably by means of an injection nozzle arranged between two adjacent strands.

[0042] Optionally or additionally, a topping is added to the mass, preferably after the mass has been formed and placed on the conveying device.

[0043] Preferably, during extrusion, the nozzle is moved and / or rotated in at least one horizontal and / or vertical direction.

[0044] Preferably, the extruded product is coated, more preferably downstream of the extruder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention will now be explained in accordance with the drawings. The explanations apply equally to all subject matters of the invention. The explanations do not limit the scope of protection.

[0046] Figures la to le Various embodiments of the protein snack product of the invention are shown.

[0047] Figures 2 to 4 Embodiments of the extruder of the invention are shown, respectively.

[0048] Figure 5 Different embodiments of the production line of the invention are shown.

[0049] LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 1 snack product 2 first mass 3 second mass 4 filling and / or topping 5 hopper 6 feed roller 7 pump, preferably volumetric pump 8 nozzle, die 9 cutting device, wire cutting device 10 injection nozzle, needle 11 cutting device 12 extruder DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure la A first embodiment of a protein snack product 1 of the invention is shown, in this example made of only one substance which is extruded and then formed into a ring, for example by moving the nozzle relative to the conveying means on which the product is placed. During extrusion the nozzle has been rotated, which gives the product a twisted appearance.

[0051] Figure lb An embodiment of a protein snack product 1 is shown, comprising two substances 2, 3 which differ in at least one property, here the colour. Each substance 2, 3 is extruded into a plurality of strands which are then placed adjacent to each other and joined into a product. After the snack has been cut from the strands, it can be further processed to form a concave surface. The outer periphery of this product is square.

[0052] Figure lc A protein product of the invention is shown. Reference can basically be made to the embodiment according to Figure lb , but in this case the product has a circular shape and the first and second substance are not segmented.

[0053] Figure ld An inventive embodiment of a protein snack product of the invention is shown, here made of one substance and comprising a filling 4. The filling can be injected into the strands before they are formed and / or after they are formed.

[0054] Figure le A protein snack product of the invention is shown, comprising two substances 2, 3 and a filling 4. The filling is provided between strands of the substances 2, 3 which are subsequently formed into the shape depicted.

[0055] Figure 2 A first embodiment of an extruder 12 of the invention is shown, in this example comprising two hoppers 5, each comprising a substance 2, 3. The substances 2, 3 flow out of the hoppers 5 and are then each pumped by a pump 7 to a nozzle 8 in which the substances 2, 3 are combined to form a protein snack product of the invention, for example as shown in Figure lb , Figure lc and Figure le . In the nozzle fibres which can be included in one or both of the substances 2, 3 can be oriented, or formed, for example with an increased length.

[0056] In this example, the embodiment comprises a third hopper 5, which here contains the filling 4, which is injected between the two strips by means of a nozzle or needle 10 before and / or at the same time as the strips are joined.

[0057] This example also shows two feed rollers, which feed the substances 2, 3 towards the pump 7. These feed rollers 6 are optional and can be used for substances with a high viscosity.

[0058] Figure 3 An embodiment of the extruder is shown for only one substance 2, which is formed into a disc by means of a nozzle. There are more nozzles 8 side by side, which simultaneously extrude the product, which is placed on a conveyor belt. Subsequently, the topping 4 is placed on each product by means of a device which can be moved up and down, which can follow the movement of the product when the topping is placed on the product. This device also comprises a number of nozzles to spray the topping 4.

[0059] Figure 4 Another embodiment of the extruder of the invention is shown, with a cutting device 11, here a cutting wire, in the left-hand picture. The embodiment on the right-hand side shows that the extruder is preferably movable during the extrusion of the product, here up and down, and follows the movement of the conveyor device which moves during the extrusion of the product.

[0060] Figure 5 Different embodiments of the production line of the invention are shown, as well as the products which can be produced by each production line.

Claims

1. Extruded protein snack product (1) for human consumption, comprising: A. a first meat substance and / or a first meat substitute substance (2), and / or B. a second meat substance and / or a second meat substitute substance (3), wherein the first and second substance (2, 3) differ in at least one property and are at least substantially not mixed, and / or C. cheese or a cheese ingredient, and / or D. a filling (4) which is wrapped by at least one of A. to C., and / or E. a topping which is provided on the surface of A. to C.

2. Extruded protein snack product (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The property is the origin and / or composition, color, fiber length, fiber orientation and / or flavor ingredient of the first and second substance.

3. Extruded protein snack product (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first and second substance (2, 3) are provided adjacent to each other.

4. The extruded protein snack product (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that At least one of the first and second substance is twisted during extrusion.

5. The extruded protein snack product (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that It is ring polygonal, bar-shaped, disc-shaped, spherical and / or plate-shaped.

6. The extruded protein snack product (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that It comprises at least one coating.

7. The extruded protein snack product (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The meat substance comprises pork, beef, chicken, lamb, insects, fish and / or cultured meat, the insects preferably being ground insects.

8. Extruder (12) for producing an extruded protein snack product (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one hopper (5) and a pump (7) and a nozzle (8).

9. The extruder (12) of claim 8, characterized in that It comprises at least two hoppers (5), two pumps (7) and a nozzle (8).

10. The extruder (12) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that The nozzle (8) is a co-extrusion nozzle.

11. The extruder (12) according to claim 10, characterized in that The outlet of the co-extrusion nozzle is: - two or more concentric rings, or - two or more parallel rectangular or square outlets.

12. The extruder (12) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that It comprises an injection nozzle (10) for injecting a filling or a topping into the substance (2, 3) or on top of the substance (2, 3).

13. The extruder (12) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that The nozzle (8) is movable and / or rotatable in at least one horizontal and / or vertical direction.

14. The extruder (12) according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that It comprises at least one row of nozzles (8) which simultaneously produce a plurality of products.

15. The extruder (12) according to one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that It comprises a cutting device (11) for cutting the strand extruded by the nozzle (8) into a certain length.

16. Production line comprising an extruder (12) according to one of claims 8 to 15 and at least one of the following devices: wet coater, dry coater, fryer, steamer, freezer and packer, each device being provided downstream of the extruder (12).

17. The production line according to claim 16, characterized in that It comprises a plurality of coaters.

18. Method for producing an extruded protein snack product (1), characterized in that, At least one substance (2, 3) is extruded in the extruder (12) with a nozzle (8) and then cut by a cutting device (11).

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, An extruded substance is formed before cutting.

20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein, The first and second substance (2, 3) are co-extruded in the extruder (12), wherein the first and second substance (2, 3) differ in at least one property.

21. The method according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that, A filling (4) is injected into the substance (2, 3).

22. The method of one of claims 18 to 20, characterized by A topping (4) is added to the substance (2, 3).

23. The method according to one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that, The nozzle (8) is moved and / or rotated in at least one horizontal and / or vertical direction.

24. The method according to one of claims 18 to 23, characterized in that, The extruded product is coated. The extruded product is coated.

25. The extruded protein snack product (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, Said filling (4) comprises a sauce, a brine of any kind and / or a jam and / or a cheese and / or a vegetable and / or a potato and / or a pasta.

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