A method for mass producing whole-seed crackers as a dehydrated food
product is provided. In one embodiment a raw food product is produced.
Mucilage-producing whole seeds, preferably flax seeds, are soaked in
water to cause them to produce a mucilage, but not long enough to cause
them to sprout. They are then mixed with ground seeds, preferably
sunflower seeds, and herbs, spices and vegetable flavors, to form a dough
having a selected moisture content, and cooled to produce a dough that
has a water content, viscosity, elasticity, tensile strength and
cohesiveness such that when sheets of dough having a desired thickness
come through the extruder they have a smooth texture, do not wrinkle or
curl, hold together without tearing, and do not stick to surfaces of
processing equipment with which they come into contact. The sheets are
then scored to outline substantially regular-shaped crackers. The sheets
are of a viscosity such that the score lines partially heal, so that when
later broken along the score lines after drying, they produce crackers
having a ragged edge. The scored sheets are dried at a temperature not
exceeding 200.degree. F. and in an embodiment of this invention, not
exceeding raw-food processing temperatures, to produce a cracker which is
crisp, but not brittle, with a slightly chewy texture.