Abstract: Methods for preparing cheese are provided that involve combining a slurry with a cheese precursor to form an admixture that is subsequently processed to form the cheese product. The slurry typically includes a liquid such as water, milk and/or cream and one or more ingredients that are useful for inclusion in the final cheese product. Systems for preparing such slurries and cheese products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing soft or firm/semi-hard cheese are provided, as well as soft or firm/semi-hard cheese prepared by the methods. The methods typically involve the formation of a slurry that contains blended or molten cheese curd. A variety of ingredients can be introduced into the curd used to prepare the slurry, the slurry that is formed, or at other stages along the manufacturing process to tailor the performance and nutritional characteristics of the final cheese product. The slurry in some methods is directly processed to form a final cheese product. In other methods, the slurry undergoes various types of processing to achieve certain desired composition or performance requirements.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing soft or firm/semi-hard cheese are provided, as well as soft or firm/semi-hard cheese prepared by the methods. The methods typically involve the formation of a slurry that contains blended or molten cheese curd. A variety of ingredients can be introduced into the curd used to prepare the slurry, the slurry that is formed, or at other stages along the manufacturing process to tailor the performance and nutritional characteristics of the final cheese product. The slurry in some methods is directly processed to form a final cheese product. In other methods, the slurry undergoes various types of processing to achieve certain desired composition or performance requirements.

Abstract: Methods for preparing cheese blends of analog cheese and soft or firm/semi-hard, ripened or unripened, cheese are provided. The methods generally involve combining a slurry that contains the basic ingredients for an analog cheese and optionally one or more other ingredients with a mass of heated soft or firm/semi-hard cheese. Slurries that are used in the methods and cheeses produced by the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of making an aldobionate product is described. The method may include providing a milk product having one or more reducing sugars, and maintaining a pH of the milk product at about 5.5 or more by adding a buffer compound to the milk product. The method may also include adding an oxidoreductase enzyme to the milk product, where at least a portion of the reducing sugar is oxidized into the aldobionate product. In addition, a method of making an aldobionate product is described that includes the steps of providing a milk product comprising a reducing sugar, mixing oxygen into the milk product, and adding an oxidoreductase enzyme to the milk product, where at least a portion of the reducing sugar is oxidized into the aldobionate product.

Abstract: Methods for preparing cheese are provided that involve combining a slurry with a cheese precursor to form an admixture that is subsequently processed to form the cheese product. The slurry typically includes a liquid such as water, milk and/or cream and one or more ingredients that are useful for inclusion in the final cheese product. Systems for preparing such slurries and cheese products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing soft or firm/semi-hard cheese are provided, as well as soft or firm/semi-hard cheese prepared by the methods. The methods typically involve the formation of a slurry that contains blended or molten cheese curd. A variety of ingredients can be introduced into the curd used to prepare the slurry, the slurry that is formed, or at other stages along the manufacturing process to tailor the performance and nutritional characteristics of the final cheese product. The slurry in some methods is directly processed to form a final cheese product. In other methods, the slurry undergoes various types of processing to achieve certain desired composition or performance requirements.

Abstract: According to the invention, a heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger may include a first tube sheet, a second tube sheet, a heat exchange tube, a header, and a coupling. The heat exchange tube may be disposed at least partially between the first tube sheet and the second tube sheet, and may also be made of a first material. The header may be made of a second material. The coupling may include a first end and a second end. The first end may be made of the first material, and the second end may be made of the second material. The first end may be operably coupled with the heat exchange tube, and the second end may be operably coupled with the header.

Abstract: Methods of making a powdered dairy composition are disclosed. The methods may include the steps of adding a sequestrant for calcium and rennet to a milk composition to make treated milk, and forming the treated milk into a milk powder. Powdered non-fat dry milk products are also disclosed. The products may include one or more milk proteins that have been enzymatically altered by chymosin, where the chymosin altered proteins are not coagulated. The products may also include one or more sequestants to bind calcium ions in the powdered product.

Abstract: Coatings containing one or more thermally coagulating proteins (e.g., whey protein) and foodstuffs coated with such coatings are provided. The coatings render foodstuffs less permeable to fat and oil in the frying medium, and thus reduce the amount of fat or oil absorbed by the foodstuff during cooking. The coatings also improve the color, texture and crispiness of the cooked foodstuff. Methods for applying such coatings to obtain the coated foodstuff are also provided.

Abstract: A process of making cheese, e.g., a mozzarella variety cheese, is disclosed. It comprises the following steps: (a) preparing a cheese curd; (b) grinding the curd while in admixture with (i) an aqueous solution of at least one cheese emulsifying salt and (ii) at least one GRAS food additive in the form of a comminuted solid, to obtain an emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd; and (c) converting the emulsifier/additive-impregnated curd into cheese either by (i) heating, kneading, and stretching the emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd to obtain a homogeneous mass of cheese, or (ii) pressing the emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd to obtain a homogeneous mass of cheese. Examples of suitable GRAS food additives include gums, stabilizers, dairy solids (e.g., non-fat dry milk or whey protein concentrate), cheese powders, non-dairy protein isolates, sodium chloride, native or modified food starches, colorants, and flavorants.

Abstract: Methods of making protein hydrolysates are described. The methods may include the steps of providing a solution comprising protein, and adjusting a pH of the solution to about 10.4 or more to form a basic protein solution. Additional steps may include adding a protease enzyme to the basic protein solution that converts at least a portion of the protein to protein hydrolysates. Protein hydrolysate compositions and water-soluble food additives are also described. The additives may include a mixture of protein hydrolysates formed by protein hydrolysis of a protein substrate. The protein hydrolysates may have an average molecular weight of about 2000 to about 10,000 Daltons.

Abstract: A process of making cheese, e.g., a mozzarella variety cheese, is disclosed. It comprises the following steps: a) preparing a cheese curd; b) grinding the curd while in admixture with (i) an aqueous solution of at least one cheese emulsifying salt and (ii) at least one GRAS food additive in the form of a comminuted solid, to obtain an emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd; and c) converting the emulsifier/additive-impregnated curd into cheese either by (i) heating, kneading, and stretching the emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd to obtain a homogeneous mass of cheese, or (ii) pressing the emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd to obtain a homogeneous mass of cheese. Examples of suitable GRAS food additives include gums, stabilizers, dairy solids (e.g., non-fat dry milk or whey protein concentrate), cheese powders, non-dairy protein isolates, sodium chloride, native or modified food starches, colorants, and flavorants.

Abstract: A method of making a powdered whey protein, where the method includes heating a slurry comprising starting whey protein to a temperature of about 140° F. to about 300° F. The heating converts at least a portion of the starting whey protein to denatured whey protein. The method also includes subjecting the slurry to high shear conditions, and drying the slurry to leave the powdered whey protein. Also, a system for producing a powdered whey protein. The system includes a cooker to heat a slurry comprising starting whey protein, and a shear pump to subject the slurry to high shear conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a product includes a conveyor assembly and a slitter assembly. The conveyor assembly conveys the product in a feed direction and defines a conveyance surface, on which the product is conveyed. The slitter assembly slits the product into strips as the product is conveyed in the feed direction. The slitter assembly comprises a plurality of cutting elements arranged in a V shape and overlapping one another in the feed direction, as viewed in a direction substantially normal to the conveyance surface. A chopping assembly is positioned downstream of the slitter assembly. The chopping assembly comprises an elongated blade, which moves in an elliptical cutting motion, such that it has a component in the downward direction to sever the strips of product, and a component in the feed direction to toss the severed pieces of product in the feed direction.

Abstract: A process of making cheese, e.g., a mozzarella variety cheese, is disclosed. It comprises the following steps: (a) preparing a cheese curd; (b) grinding the curd while in admixture with (i) an aqueous solution of at least one cheese emulsifying salt and (ii) at least one GRAS food additive in the form of a comminuted solid, to obtain an emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd; and (c) converting the emulsifier/additive-impregnated curd into cheese either by (i) heating, kneading, and stretching the emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd to obtain a homogeneous mass of cheese, or (ii) pressing the emulsifier/additive-impregnated ground curd to obtain a homogeneous mass of cheese. Examples of suitable GRAS food additives include gums, stabilizers, dairy solids (e.g., non-fat dry milk or whey protein concentrate), cheese powders, non-dairy protein isolates, sodium chloride, native or modified food starches, colorants, and flavorants.

Abstract: Methods for preparing cheese are provided that involve combining a slurry with a cheese precursor to form an admixture that is subsequently processed to form the cheese product. The slurry typically includes a liquid such as water, milk and/or cream and one or more ingredients that are useful for inclusion in the final cheese product. Systems for preparing such slurries and cheese products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for preparing cheese blends of analog cheese and soft or firm/semi-hard, ripened or unripended, cheese are provided. The methods generally involve combining a slurry that contains the basic ingredients for an analog cheese and optionally one or more other ingredients with a mass of heated soft or firm/semi-hard cheese. Slurries that are used in the methods and cheeses produced by the methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing soft or firm/semi-hard cheese are provided, as well as soft or firm/semi-hard cheese prepared by the methods. The methods typically involve the formation of a slurry that contains blended or molten cheese curd. A variety of ingredients can be introduced into the curd used to prepare the slurry, the slurry that is formed, or at other stages along the manufacturing process to tailor the performance and nutritional characteristics of the final cheese product. The slurry in some methods is directly processed to form a final cheese product. In other methods, the slurry undergoes various types of processing to achieve certain desired composition or performance requirements.

Abstract: Methods for preparing cheese blends of analog cheese and soft or firm/semi-hard, ripened or unripended, cheese are provided. The methods generally involve combining a slurry that contains the basic ingredients for an analog cheese and optionally one or more other ingredients with a mass of heated soft or firm/semi-hard cheese. Slurries that are used in the methods and cheeses produced by the methods are also provided.