A food extruder is a machine that forces out food at a high pressure through a die or nozzle. Food extrusion is a continuous process where the raw material is pushed through the die by a screw-type plunger. The resulting product, which has been through a reduction in cross-sectional area, takes on the shape of the die opening. Food extrusion can be used to create a variety of products such as snacks, cereals, and pasta.
Extruded foods are typically cooked under hot air or frying oil to improve their texture and flavor. The cooking process also helps to solidify the shape of the extruded food. Some examples of extruded foods include macaroni noodles, breakfast cereals, and potato chips.
How does food extruder work?
The screw-type plunger inside the food extruder forces the raw material out through the die at a high pressure. The raw material is first fed into the barrel of the extruder where it is heated to its melting point. The heated material becomes pliable and easier to shape. As the screw-type plunger moves forward, it pushes the raw material through the die.
The size and shape of the die will determine the final shape of the extruded food product. For example, if you were making macaroni noodles, you would use a die with small circular openings. If you were making potato chips, you would use a die with small rectangular openings.
Once the extruded food product comes out of the die, it is cook under hot air or frying oil to improve its texture and flavor. The cooking process also helps to solidify the shape of the extruded food.
What are some benefits of using food extruder?
Food extrusion help to improve the nutrition of the final product by breaking down difficult-to-digest components such as cellulose and starches. As a result, extrusion is a process that offers many advantages for both food manufacturers and consumers alike.
The best advantage is the similar shape of all food as it seems like that it has been cut with the hand. Such uniform shapes especially while cutting food is very hard to get.
Food extrusion is a cost-effective way to mass produce food products with little waste. Extruded foods also have a longer shelf life than other types of processed foods because they do not contain moisture that can lead to spoilage.
Conclusion
A food extruder is machine that forces out food at high pressure through a die or nozzle. Extrusion is a continuous process where raw material is pushed forward by a screw-type plunger taking on the shape as it comes out of die opening. This method can create snacks, cereals, and pasta; however, they need to be cooked before consumption for better flavor and texture as well as to solidify shape if necessary.
There are many benefits for using an extruder such as low cost production, less waste, and longer shelf life. Consequently, this technology has been growing in leaps and bounds in recent years due its endless potential applications in modern day society.
