Method for Making a Stable Stacked Snack Food Configuration

Abstract

A method for making asymmetrical snack pieces that can be efficiently nested or stacked. A dough preform is mated with a mold as the preform is cooked into a snack piece. The preform takes the shape of the mold. The mold is designed such that the resultant snack piece, when resting upon a flat surface, has an apex and a base of equal height. This is achieved by making the mold such that the centroid of the snack piece lies in a plane that is parallel to a plane formed by the vertices of the snack piece. The snack pieces can then be efficiently nested or stacked.

1 .- 5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . A mold for a form fryer, said mold comprising:
 a first section having a first radius of curvature;
 at least one second section having a second radius of curvature integral with said first section; 
   wherein said second radius of curvature is smaller than said first radius of curvature.   
   
   
       7 . The mold of  claim 6  wherein two second sections comprise end sections and wherein said first section comprises a center section disposed between said end sections. 
   
   
       8 . The mold of  claim 6  wherein said mold is symmetrical. 
   
   
       9 . The mold of  claim 6  wherein said mold is asymmetrical. 
   
   
       10 . An asymmetrical stackable snack piece having an axis of curvature comprising:
 a centroid, such that when said snack piece rests upon said centroid on a flat surface, said flat surface defines a first plane; and   a plurality of vertices, said vertices defining a second plane, wherein said second plane is substantially parallel to said first plane.   
   
   
       11 . The snack piece of  claim 10  wherein said snack piece is asymmetrical about a balance line passing through said centroid, wherein said balance line is parallel to an axis of curvature of said snack piece and said centroid is located away from a centerline of said snack piece. 
   
   
       12 . The snack piece of  claim 10  wherein said snack piece is substantially triangular.