A method and system are provided for forming sliced cheese directly from a
quantity of cheese, without the need to thermally process the cheese. In
general, cheese slices are formed from a quantity of cheese in which at
least one discrete cheese piece is introduced into an elongated chamber
having a longitudinal interior surface and housing a conveyor. Resulting
cheese mass is transported forwardly and longitudinally of the chamber
via the conveyor to a discharge outlet of the chamber and into a funnel.
The cheese mass is extruded at a temperature of less than about
50.degree. F. as a plurality of cheese extrudate sheets through a
plurality of elongated orifices of a die plate which receive cheese mass
exiting from the outlet of the funnel. The cheese extrudate sheets are
cut along their lengths to provide discrete cheese slices.