Extruded, multi-portioned butter products and system and methods of producing same

Abstract

An extruded butter stick product includes a plurality of pre-defined portions successively connected lengthwise to an adjacent portion by a connecting bridge, each bridge comprising a height that is at least 15% and up to 50% of the total height of the butter stick. Sidewalls of the successively connected portions define at least one trough leading to the bridge. Sidewalls may provide a surface for gripping one of the portions, and a bridge may define a fulcrum for breaking a portion from the butter stick such that each portion of the butter stick can be individually separated from the butter stick at the bridge. Alternatively, sidewalls and the connecting bridge may provide a guide for cutting the pre-defined portions. The butter sticks may be produced by an extruder and/or an extruder die defining an aperture with teeth for defining the troughs and connecting bridges in the butter stick.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extruded butter stick product comprising a plurality of pre-defined portions, each of the plurality of portions successively connected lengthwise to an adjacent portion by a connecting bridge, each connecting bridge comprising a height that is at least 15% and up to 50% of the total height of the butter stick, wherein sidewalls of the successively connected portions define at least one trough leading to the connecting bridge, the sidewalls providing a surface for gripping one of the portions and the connecting bridge defining a fulcrum for breaking a portion from the butter stick such that each portion of the butter stick can be individually separated from the butter stick at the connecting bridge. 
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of portions are equally weighted relative to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 2 , wherein the portions each weigh about 0.5 ounces, about 1.0 ounce, or about 2.0 ounces. 
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 2 , wherein the butter stick comprises at least three portions and wherein at least two of the portions have a shape that is the same relative to the other. 
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 4 , wherein the butter stick comprises at least four portions. 
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 4 , wherein each connecting bridge successively connecting the portions has a height that is the same. 
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one trough defines an angle of about 25 to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of portions has a shape that is the same. 
     
     
         9 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein each connecting bridge successively connecting the portions has a height that is the same. 
     
     
         10 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting bridges successively connecting the portions have a variable height with respect to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one trough defines an angle of about 25 to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one trough comprises an upper trough and a lower trough. 
     
     
         13 . A method of extruding a butter stick, comprising:
 feeding butter into an extruder, the extruder comprising a die, the die defining an extrusion aperture for producing a butter extrudate having a plurality of portions successively connected lengthwise to an adjacent portion by a connecting bridge, each connecting bridge comprising a height that is at least 15% and up to 50% of the total height of the butter stick, wherein the die opening comprises teeth that define sidewalls of the successively connected portions, the sidewalls defining at least one trough between each portion; and   cutting the extrudate to form the extruded butter stick product having a plurality of portions,   wherein each connecting bridge of the butter stick product defines a fulcrum for breaking a portion from the butter stick such that each portion of the butter stick can be individually separated from the butter stick.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the teeth define a point having an angle of about 25 to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . An extruded butter stick product comprising a plurality of portions, each of the plurality of portions successively connected lengthwise to an adjacent portion by a connecting bridge, each connecting bridge comprising a height that is at least 50% and up to 90% of the total height of the butter stick, wherein sidewalls of the successively connected portions define at least one trough leading to the connecting bridge, the trough providing guide for cutting the butter stick between two successively connected portions such that a portion of the butter stick can be individually cut from the butter stick at the connecting bridge. 
     
     
         16 . The product of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of portions are equally weighted relative to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The product of  claim 16 , wherein the butter stick comprises at least two portions. 
     
     
         18 . The product of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one trough defines an angle of about 25 to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The product of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one trough comprises an upper trough and a lower trough. 
     
     
         20 . A method of extruding a butter stick, comprising:
 feeding butter into an extruder, the extruder comprising a die, the die defining a die opening for producing a butter extrudate having a plurality of portions successively connected lengthwise to an adjacent portion by a connecting bridge, each connecting bridge comprising a height that is at least 20% and up to 90% of the total height of the butter stick, wherein the die opening comprises teeth that define sidewalls of the successively connected portions, the sidewalls defining at least one trough between each portion; and   cutting the extrudate to form the extruded butter stick product having a plurality of portions,   wherein sidewalls of the successively connected portions define at least one trough leading to the connecting bridge, the trough providing guide for cutting the butter stick between two successively connected portions such that a portion of the butter stick can be individually cut from the butter stick at a connecting bridge.   
     
     
         21 . An extruder die configured to form a butter stick having a plurality of pre-defined portions, the extruder die comprising:
 an extrusion aperture defined in the extrusion die, the extrusion aperture comprising teeth extending from at least one side of the extrusion aperture towards a middle portion of the extrusion aperture such that extruding butter through the aperture causes butter extrudate to be formed into a stick shape having a plurality of successively connected portions, each of the portions comprising sidewalls defined by the teeth, and wherein a free distal end of each tooth defines a trough in the butter stick, thereby providing extruded butter having the plurality of pre-defined portions separated by the trough.