The invention relates to a method of processing food material (12) using a pulsed laser beam (16), wherein the wavelength of the laser beam is in the near-infrared (IR) range and the laser beam has a focussed laser spot (18). The method comprises the step of applying a laser pulse with a pulse duration in the range of 1 to 1000 fs to the food material, wherein the focussed laser spot lies on the surface of the food material or in the body of the food material and the laser pulse creates a cavity in the food material at the position of the focussed laser spot.