Abstract: Methods for heat treating food products include controlling a temperature of a heating element to a maximum temperature correlated to a desired temperature for the food product. A sensed temperature of the heating element may be used to control the maximum temperature. An oven includes a heating element and a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the heating element, and a controller that limits the temperature the heating element based on output from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A coffee roasting apparatus including a compartment for holding coffee beans; a roasting element for roasting the coffee beans in the compartment; and a controller for controlling the roasting element. The controller is configured to control the roasting element as a function of a rate of change in the volume of the coffee beans residing in the compartment.

Abstract: Methods of covering an animal feed product involve depositing in an open end of a container an animal feed. Placing a cover on an exposed surface of the feed at the open end of the container, where the cover includes a flowable coating arranged on one side of a flexible film and a rigid or semi-rigid layer bound to an opposite side of the film. The exposed surface of the feed comprises irregular surface structures due to feed components positioned at the exposed surface. A central portion of the flexible film of the placed cover conforms to the irregular surface structures at the exposed surface of the feed upon the flowable coating reaching a temperature of at least about 125° F.

Abstract: A method of storing potatoes comprises storing a plurality of endodormant or ecodormant potatoes in a first gaseous environment including carbon dioxide in an amount of from greater than the amount of carbon dioxide present in atmospheric air to up to 5 mol % based on the composition of the first gaseous environment; and in a subsequent storage step storing the potatoes in a second gaseous environment including carbon dioxide in an amount of from 0.03 to 2 mol % based on the composition of the second gaseous environment, the first and second gaseous environments having different carbon dioxide contents. The method may comprise: monitoring the dormancy of the potatoes; in response to eye movement of a potato, changing the first gaseous environment to a second gaseous environment; maintaining a level of carbon dioxide in the second gaseous environment below a selected threshold to control sugar content of the potatoes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a multi-layered, hollow, chocolate figure with a print in edible color preparation, comprising providing one half of a hollow, chocolate figure with one or more types of edible color preparation by means of an elastic pad, characterized in that the printing takes place at a pressure of between 8 and 12 bar and wherein the figure is situated in a mold-half during printing.

Abstract: A method of using a fluid-immersion storage and cooking device having a thermal container that defines a first volume and a second volume includes disposing a first food item in the first volume. A second food item and a third food item are disposed in the second volume in a first position and a second position, respectively. A volume of fluid having a first temperature is circulated through the first volume to transfer thermal energy to the first food item. After a predetermined time, at least a portion of the volume of fluid is heated to a second temperature. A portion of the volume of fluid is conveyed to the second volume such that (1) the second food item is substantially submerged in the portion of the volume of fluid and (2) the third food item is disposed substantially outside of the portion of the volume of fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for processing green coffee beans, including: (1) loading unroasted green coffee beans on a mesh-like plate, placing in a container the mesh-like plate having the green coffee beans loaded thereon, introducing water into the bottom of the container so as to be spaced apart from the lower surface of the mesh-like plate, and closing the lid of the container to seal the container; (2) placing the sealed container in a heating cabinet, and then steaming the green coffee beans at low temperature for 10 to 12 days while maintaining the internal temperature of the heating cabinet at 70 to 80° C.; and (3) opening the lid of the container, and then drying the steamed green coffee beans for 4 to 6 days while maintaining the internal temperature of the heating cabinet at 38 to 43° C.

Abstract: The invention is an improved process and system for producing a shaped snack chip. A shaping oven, which uses a chain edge conveyor having transverse slats with at least one spring affixed to the slats, is used to convert dough pieces into shaped pre-forms, which can optionally be further dehydrated to form shaped snack chips.

Abstract: A method for treating a viscous mass comprising solid components in a grinding system, especially a fatty mass with solid components, comprising a mixer and a grinding device, comprising the steps of: feeding into a mixer the mass to be treated; repeatedly circulating the mass to be treated by means of a displacement device from the mixer through a supply pipe to the grinding device and through a return pipe back to the mixer for reducing the size of the solid components in the grinding device; removing from the system at least part of the treated mass through a branch-off provided in the return line when a predetermined grinding fineness has been obtained; and feeding into the mixer a new mass to be treated and at least partly displacing the new mass to be treated in the grinding device via the displacement device and as a consequence removing at least another part of the treated mass from said system.

Abstract: A package for combined steam and microwave heating of food, wherein the package may include microwave energy interactive materials (“MEIMs”) configured for providing rapid, simultaneous microwave and steam cooking in a domestic microwave oven. The MEIMs may be configured for controlling the heating pattern within the package and to control volumetric heating of food in the package. The MEIMs may include one or more of a susceptor, shield, and/or resonating patch antenna. The package may be paper-based, or it may be manufactured of any other suitable material. One or more of the different sections of the package may comprise separate chambers respectively for the steam source and the food to be steamed, so that the steam source and the food to be steamed are separated from one another during manufacturing, storage, and cooking.

Abstract: A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles are composed of, comprise or consist of a material which is magnetic and/or electroconductive; b. heating the particles in the bed to form a cooking medium in the form of a heated bed of particles, wherein in step b the particles are heated at least partially by electromagnetic induction; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated particles transfer heat into the elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.

Abstract: A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles; b. heating and moving the particles in the bed to form a mobile cooking medium in the form of a heated, mobile bed of particles; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the snack food precursor elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated, mobile particles transfer heat into the snack food precursor elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.

Abstract: Method for pasteurizing almonds and other nuts with steam at atmospheric pressure. The amount of condensation on and the consequent water uptake of nuts is limited by pasteurizing the nuts in a heating chamber with a gaseous atmosphere including a steam mixture and forming a forced-convection path through the nuts. The limited water uptake maintains the quality of the nuts. A forced-convection steam cooker conveying food products on a foraminous conveyor belt forces the steam mixture through the nuts. A preheater preheats the nuts so that they can be pasteurized in the steam cooker at a temperature of between 85° C. and 99° C. to reduce the dwell time and increase throughput.

Abstract: The present description relates to a method of manufacturing a pet food including adding a first oil or fat to food granules prepared by granulating a mixture of ingredients, subsequently baking the food granules, and then adding a second oil or fat. The food granules contain a reducing sugar prior to baking. The amount added of the first oil or fat represents 0.5 to 8.0% by weight of the total weight of a combination of the mixture, the first oil or fat and the second oil or fat. The combined amount added of the first oil or fat and the second oil or fat represents 5.0 to 13.0% by weight of the total weight.

Abstract: A method of making a tablet for hot espresso beverage extraction includes the steps of grinding a brewable product to obtain a powder having a substantially uniform particle size, dosing a predetermined amount of the ground product powder, moistening the powdered product dose, homogenizing the moistened mixture to obtain a powdered product with a substantially uniform moisture content, forming the powdered product dose to obtain a disk-shaped or prismatic tablet, and supplying an amount of energy to the tablet to obtain a substantially compact and integral item. The step of supplying energy is carried out by irradiating the tablet with an electromagnetic wave beam to overheat and partially bake and/or sinter the particles of the powdered product and impart a relatively compact and self-supporting construction to the finished tablet. The electromagnetic wave irradiation step is carried out at the end of the forming step while continuously compressing the dose.

Abstract: A dispenser cartridge for use in a dispenser arrangement for introducing at least one dispensed substance into a liquid, includes an enveloping element with a continuous central space and with at least two openings for the entry and exit of the liquid respectively, wherein the dispensed substance is provided in the central space wherein first and second sealing means are provided which seal the openings completely in an initial configuration, wherein the sealing means can be brought into an operating configuration in which a flow path through the enveloping element is opened for the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a whole soybean milk with superior storage stability which shows almost no change in viscosity when stored for a long time, and a whole soybean milk prepared thereby. As a method of the present invention provides a whole soybean milk having small particle sizes based on a procedure simpler than pre-existing methods, time for preparing a whole soybean milk can be shortened. Further, as the whole soybean milk obtained by this method shows almost no change in viscosity when stored for a long time, its shelf life can be extended dramatically as compared to pre-existing whole soybean milk containing both soybean milk residue and soybean liquid, which shows viscosity increase over time.

Abstract: Provided is frozen cooked noodles which can be stored in a frozen state for a long time and present satisfactory appearance and texture after defrosting. A method for manufacturing frozen cooked noodles comprising obtaining raw noodles by extruding dough containing from 0.5 to 5 parts by mass of a plant protein and 100 parts by mass of wheat flour containing 70 mass % or more of a regular wheat flour at a pressure of from 60 kgf/cm2 to 160 kgf/cm2, cooking the raw noodles, and freezing the cooked noodles.

Abstract: Covers for sealing and/or bonding with an exposed surface of an animal feed within a container include a flexible film that conforms to the animal feed and a rigid or semi-rigid layer that allows the cover to be handled by an operator during placement of the cover over the animal feed composition while the composition is at elevated temperatures. The polymer film may include a heat-activated coating that establishes a bond with the animal feed when the feed is at elevated temperatures or when an external heat source is applied to the cover. The heat-activated coating may be flowable at a temperature of at least about 125° F. Upon placement of the cover over the animal feed, the film conforms to the exposed surface of the feed and the cover forms a seal with the animal feed as flowable coating reaches a flowable temperature.

Abstract: Provided is a method for determining a performance index of a cooking utensil (1a, 1b, 11) for a predetermined cooking temperature with, the aim of assessing nutritional gain, said cooking utensil comprising a bottom (2a, 2b, 10) having a cooking surface (3a, 3b, 10a).