Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a ready-to-eat farinaceous food product, said method comprising the successive steps of: a) preparing a farinaceous dough by mixing flour, water and optionally one or more other bakery ingredients; b) dividing the dough into one or more dough portions; c) shaping the one or more dough portions into one or more shaped dough pieces; d) proving the dough pieces; e) contacting 30-60% of the total surface area of the one or more shaped dough pieces with hot oil during a period of at least 10 seconds to produce one or more partially fried dough pieces comprising a fried surface area and a non-fried surface area; and f) baking said one or more partially fried dough pieces to produce one or more baked dough pieces; wherein a layer of edible material is applied to 40-70% of the surface area of the shaped dough pieces, the partially fried dough pieces or the baked dough pieces and wherein the surface area of the final ready-to-eat product that is not covered by the layer o

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a readily water-dispersible particulate composition comprising by weight of dry matter at least 10% of xanthan gum and not more than 60% of starch, said composition being characterized in that the xanthan gum present in the composition can be dispersed completely within 2 minutes in distilled water of 25° C. at a concentration of 0.7% based on the dry weight of xanthan. The particulate xanthan gum compositions of the present invention exhibit unique viscosity enhancing properties that are dependent on the electrolyte levels of the aqueous environment in which they are applied. The favorable properties of the xanthan compositions according to the invention can be realized without resorting to chemical modification of the xanthan gum. The xanthan compositions according to the present invention can be applied advantageously in e.g. food products and oil drilling fluids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method that enables the preparation of fully cooked farinaceous products with sensory properties that are comparable to those of fried products, but having a substantially lower fat content than their fried counterparts. More particularly, the invention relates a method of preparing a fully cooked farinaceous food product, said method comprising the successive steps of: preparing a farinaceous dough or batter by mixing flour, water and optionally one or more other bakery ingredients; dividing the dough or batter into one or more portions; and cooking said one or more portions by exposing them (i) for in total 20-600 seconds to infrared radiation, more than 50% of the energy content of said infrared radiation stemming from infrared radiation having a wavelength in the range of 0.7-10 ?m and (ii) for in total 20-600 seconds to impingement with hot air having a temperature of at least 150° C.

Abstract: A dry particulate mix for use in yeast leavened bakery products, includes: 3-90 wt. % of non-fermentable carbohydrates, including at least 3 wt. % of a non-fermentable sugar alcohol; 0-50 wt. % of fermentable sugars; two or more bakery ingredients selected from the group consisting of: 10-90 wt. % of viable yeast; 10-50 wt. % of baking powder; 5-90 wt. % of emulsifier; 3-50 wt. % of ascorbic acid; and 0.0001-1 wt. % of bakery enzyme; all of these percentages being calculated on the combined amount of these two to five bakery ingredients; and wherein the weight ratio of non-fermentable carbohydrates to fermentable sugars exceeds 1:1. A sweetened dough is obtainable by incorporating therein 3-75% by weight of the final dough of the dry particulate mix.

Abstract: A method of preparing a flour based dough, includes mixing flour, a source of water-unextractable (WU) arabinoxylans, xylanase and water, wherein the source of WU arabinoxylans includes at least 10% WU arabinoxylans by weight of dry matter and the source of WU arabinoxylans is applied in an amount sufficient to deliver at least 2.5 g of WU arabinoxylans per kg of flour. The combined use of WU arabinoxylans and xylanase yields a dough product that exhibits improved processability, excellent proof stability and very high bake volume. Also disclosed is a flour based dough containing: 30-65 wt. % of flour of which at least 80 wt. % is wheat flour; 20-65 wt. % of water; at least 2.25% of WU arabinoxylans by weight of flour; and at least 5 units of xylanase activity per kg of flour, wherein the weight ratio of WU arabinoxylans to WE arabinoxylans exceeds 2.5:1.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a frozen baked foodstuff other than a frozen baked bagel that can suitably be prepared for consumption by microwave heating, said foodstuff comprising a filling and a flour based casing that fully envelops the filling. More particularly, the invention relates to such a foodstuff that comprises a toroidal shaped filling and a flour based casing that fully envelops said toroidal shaped filling, wherein the ratio between the internal diameter and the external diameter of the toroidal shaped filling is within range of 1:3 and 1:1.8. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a ready-to-eat foodstuff comprising subjecting the aforementioned frozen baked foodstuff to microwave heating and to a process of preparing said frozen baked foodstuff.

Abstract: A method of preparing a baked or fined product from leavened dough, includes a) forming a dough by combining flour, water, a slow reacting leavening system including a leavening acid and a leavening base and optionally one or more other bakery ingredients, the slow reacting leavening system containing (a) a slow reacting leavening acid selected from the group consisting of sodium acid pyrophosphate, calcium acid pyrophosphate, aluminium phosphate, sodium aluminium phosphate, glucono-o-lactone, encapsulated leavening acids and combinations thereof, and/or (b) an encapsulated leavening base; b) shaping the dough; c) proofing the dough at a temperature in the range of 5-45° C. for at least 40 minutes to obtain a proofed dough with a specific volume of at least 1.4 ml/g; and d) baking or frying the proofed dough; wherein prior to the proofed dough is stored under ambient conditions for more than 1 hour.

Abstract: A cold-gelling thixotropic glaze composition has a Brix value in the range of 20-65; containing at least 0.1 wt. % and less than 2.5 wt. % of low methoxylated-amidated (LMA) pectin; and containing at least 34 wt. % of water, the composition being characterised in that after it has been sheared sufficiently to become pourable, it forms a firm gel under quiescent conditions. The glaze composition according to the present invention exhibits significant shear thinning and subsequently forms a firm, non-sticky gel on standing. Thus, the present glaze composition can be made pourable by applying sufficient shear, e.g. by shaking and/or stirring it. The shear-thinned pourable glaze composition can be applied directly onto the surface of a food product, following which it will rapidly gel to produce a firm glaze.

Abstract: According to the present invention hydrocolloid compositions are provided comprising anionic polysaccharides as well as an amount of peptide material. These hydrocolloid compositions can suitably be used to gel and/or viscosify aqueous systems. Interactions between said anionic polysaccharides and said peptides in aqueous systems result in cross-linked polymer networks. According to the present invention the peptides are typically obtained by hydrolysing protein compositions and optionally subsequently isolating or purifying a cationic fraction therefrom. The use of the present gelled and/or viscosified aqueous systems in e.g. foodstuffs, beverages, encapsulates and pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic compositions are disclosed herein.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a readily water-dispersible particulate composition comprising by weight of dry matter at least 10% of xanthan gum and not more than 60% of starch, said composition being characterised in that the xanthan gum present in the composition can be dispersed completely within 2 minutes in distilled water of 25° C. at a concentration of 0.7% based on the dry weight of xanthan. The particulate xanthan gum compositions of the present invention exhibit unique viscosity enhancing properties that are dependent on the electrolyte levels of the aqueous environment in which they are applied. The favourable properties of the xanthan compositions according to the invention can be realised without resorting to chemical modification of the xanthan gum. The xanthan compositions according to the present invention can be applied advantageously in e.g. food products and oil drilling fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the mutant bacteria comprising high levels of folate and being resistant to methotrexate. Also provided are food and food supplement compositions comprising these bacteria and methods for isolating mutant bacteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of baking frozen dough pieces using a multi-step baking program that yields a baked product that is essentially indistinguishable from a baked product prepared from freshly prepared non-frozen dough. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a method of baking a frozen dough piece in an oven using a multi-step baking program. The method has a first step of heating the frozen dough piece in an oven comprising a humid atmosphere with a dewpoint of at least 40° C. for a sufficiently long period to completely thaw the exterior of the dough piece to a depth of at least 5 mm, preferably of at least 8 mm, and a subsequent step of baking the dough piece in an oven comprising a dry atmosphere with a temperature of at least 140° C., to obtain a baked product exhibiting a soft crumb and a crispy, browned crust.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with lipid-encapsulated or lipid-coated functional bakery ingredients. More particularly, the invention relates to a granule suitable for use in the preparation of a dough, comprising: a) a hydrophilic core with a diameter of at least 5 ?m, said core containing a functional bakery ingredient selected from the group of enzymes, oxidoreductants, acidulants, hydrocolloids, starches, yeast, sugars, water, flavours and combinations thereof; and b) a lipophilic substantially continuous layer encapsulating the core, which layer contains at least 50 wt. % triglyceride fat with a slip melting point of at least 30° C. and at least 1 wt. % of a release agent selected from the group of monoglycerides, diglycerides, diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono and/or diglyceride, stearyl-lactylates and combinations thereof.