Methods and systems for automatically extruding and cutting dough-based products having pre-selected weights

The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for automatically extruding dough-based products having pre-selected weights. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention automatically scale the weight of a dough-based product, such as a doughnut, at the extruder end of an apparatus by controlling the extrusion tank air pressure. A method for automatically forming dough-based products, such as doughnuts involves pressurizing a tank containing dough. The dough is extruded to form a flight of dough-based products. The weight of the flight of dough-based products is measured. The weight data is transmitted to a computer. The measured weight is compared to a predetermined weight stored in the computer memory. The pressure in the tank is adjusted automatically before subsequent extrusions.