Cheese depositing system and method

摘要

A system and method are provided for forming IQF shreds (10) of mozzarella cheese into a bead form and depositing the bead (18) on the periphery (66) of a pizza crust (12) for forming a pizza with a cheese stuffed rim. The IQF shreds (10) are heated and then extruded to form the bead (18) placed on the crust periphery (66) via a high speed extrusion head (54). Heating and extrusion techniques are disclosed that work the IQF shreds (10) into an extrudable mass or paste that, although lacking the desired stringiness quality, reconstitutes upon baking such that stringiness comparable to more expensive string mozzarella cheese is achieved. <IMAGE>