An extruder has an auger unit having an extruder screw. The extruder also has a food product inlet passageway and a food product die outlet. The food product inlet passageway is configured to receive food product extruded via the extruder screw. The food product die outlet is configured to expel food product from the extruder as an extrudate. The extruder further has at least first and second food passageways that operatively and in parallel connect the inlet passageway to the die outlet. The first and second food product passageways are configured such that food product passing through the first food passageway will travel from the inlet passageway to the die outlet more quickly than food product passing through the second food passageway will travel from the inlet passageway to the die outlet as additional food product is forced into the inlet passageway by the extruder screw.
