What is food extrusion and what is it used for?

In this article, we explain what food extrusion is, how a food extruder works, and what products can be made using this process.
At Sanygran, we use dry extrusion and wet extrusion to develop innovative extruded foods, such as textured vegetable proteins (TVP), extruded snacks, and functional flours. Thanks to our advanced technology, we achieve unique textures and enhance the nutritional value of extruded foods.

What is food extrusion?

Food extrusion is a process that transforms ingredients using heat, pressure, and moisture. It modifies the structure of raw materials, allowing the creation of products with new textures and functionalities.
This technique is widely used in the production of textured vegetable proteins (TVP), breakfast cereals, snacks, extruded flours, and animal feed, among others. Its impact on the food industry has been key to developing more sustainable and nutritious products.

The food extrusion process

The food extrusion process consists of several stages, where specialised food extrusion equipment ensures the quality and consistency of the final product.

Step 1: Ingredient mixing

Raw materials such as flours, vegetable proteins, and starches are carefully combined in precise proportions to ensure the quality of the extruded food.

Step 2: Heat and pressure application

The mixture is fed into a food extruder, where temperature and pressure modify its structure. This step improves digestibility and removes unwanted compounds.

Step 3: Shaping and texturisation

Depending on the type of food extrusion, the product passes through a die that determines its final shape and texture. This allows for the production of textured vegetable proteins, crispy cereals, and extruded snacks.

Which foods can be extruded?

Food extrusion is applied to various products to enhance their texture and functionality.

Textured vegetable proteins (TVP)

Through food extrusion, plant-based proteins are transformed into textures similar to meat, making them ideal for developing realistic and versatile plant-based products.

Breakfast cereals and extruded snacks

Thanks to food extrusion, cereals and snacks achieve their characteristic crispy texture and lightness, improving their appeal and shelf life.

Extruded flours

The food extrusion process enhances the solubility and digestibility of flours, making them more functional for bakery applications and specialised nutrition.

Your specialist food extrusion manufacturer

If you’re looking for a specialist food extrusion manufacturer, Sanygran provides both dry and wet extrusion technology to develop innovative plant-based products.

We tailor each product to market needs, ensuring:

• Custom textures → Unique and versatile product structures.
• Improved digestibility → Processes that enhance nutrient absorption.
• Lower environmental impact → Reduced water and energy consumption for a more sustainable production process.

Contact us to discover how food extrusion can add value to your business.