Extrusion Of Food Processing

Extrusion processing is a commonly used processing technology in the food industry with a wide number of applications. It is a processing system that utilizes a single screw or a set of screws to force food materials through a small opening. While food is being forced through the extruder, foods are cooked by the high pressure, high shear, and high temperature environment created by the screws, encased in the barrel. Upon exiting, materials often puff due to the release of pressure and conversion of water into steam.Extrusion has emerged as a versatile and indispensable method in food processing. The technique, which forces raw ingredients through a shaping orifice, has been around for ages and has adapted over time. This ability to mold and shape materials, especially food, has made it a favorite for product innovation and development.

Food extrusion is a form of extrusion used in food processing. It is a process by which a set of mixed ingredients are forced through an opening in a perforated plate or die with a design specific to the food, and is then cut to a specified size by blades. The machine which forces the mix through the die is an extruder, and the mix is known as the extrudate. The extruder consists of a large, rotating screw tightly fitting within a stationary barrel, at the end of which is the die.