Apparatus for molding and precooking corn and wheat tortillas

摘要

Apparatus for forming and precooking corn and wheat tortillas and similar products under steam and pressure, simultaneously on both faces and internally, by the insertion of a portion of moldable dough between two facing mating parallel space surfaces which are heated. The surfaces undergo continuous horizontal conveyance motion and an alternate approaching and separating motion therebetween so as to exert pressure on the dough during its travel for forming the tortilla with the desired thickness and, in addition, accomplishing superficial inner precooking which uses the pressure exerted by the facing surfaces when compressing the same. The specific steam from the moisture of the dough and the inner pressure exerted by the latter are prevented from exhausting for a period of three or four seconds. This period must not be increased to the point where the inner pressure of the steam increases to the extent of disintegrating the tortilla when applying heat thereto. By means of this procedure, the quality of the tortilla is extraordinarily improved, and since it is perfectly structured, elastic flexible, and nonporous it has a longer duration and a greater resistance to hardening.