Abstract: This invention relates to the continuous rehydration of dehydrated potato solids and potato mixtures to form first an homogeneous slurry which sets to a dough and the forming or shaping of this slurry or dough into products which are suitable for deep frying. The process is characterized by the improved quality of the products produced by it, and by the novel methods by which the potato solids are rehydrated and shaped or formed into pieces suitable for deep frying. The dehydrated potato solids can be either flour, flakes or granules. The dehydrated potato mixtures can be any combination of additives, binders, fillers, gums, texturizing agents and potato solids, etc., in which the potato portion constitutes at least 50% of the mixture by weight, as either flour, flakes or granules. The products can be any type of potato product, but in particular, they are deep fried potato products such as chips or French-fries.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting evaporation of the contents of a multitude of containers, such as test tubes, including a rack and a manifold having multiple paths of open communication with a plurality of containers positioned within the rack, through which evaporation of the contents of the containers by vacuum or positive gas flow is achieved.

Abstract: Cellular food materials have been found to possess a relatively soft texture when they are frozen while under a gas pressure of greater than about 50 psig. This pressure freezing treatment also renders the foodstuff more permeable and porous, resulting in a product that will cook faster, can be dehydrated and rehydrated more quickly, and is more responsive to infusion or extraction processes.

Abstract: A process for automatically preparing french fries comprising the steps of cooking french fry shaped pieces of potato dough in a hot oil contained in an imperforate container having a drum shaped basket having a perforate cylindric wall and opposed overlapping arcuate segments which rotate to provide a tumbling agitation of said pieces, to insure uniform contact with said oil, which is interrupted for a time sufficient to complete the cooking of said pieces which thereafter are drained of any excess oil prior to transferring the drained pieces to a holding area.

Abstract: The undesirable and damaging reaction heat occurring during the blowing of asphalt is avoided by injecting water into the air inlet pipes of the reactor vessel heated by the hot asphalt surrounding them. During this, the superheated steam produced without expenditure is passed through the liquid asphalt, causing the removal of low molecular hydrocarbons formed during the blowing or stripping.

Abstract: A potato chip product and process wherein a dough is prepared from dehydrated cooked potatoes and water and subsequently fried. The dough has an iodine index of from about 0.01 to about 6 and a lipid content of from 0 to about 6%, by weight.

Abstract: In the process of preparing deep-fried potato products such as chips or French fries, the conventional blanching step comprising washing and pre-heating before the actual cooking in oil is replaced by novel blanching step. In this process step, the cut potato products are submersed in water and subjected to the passage of electric current of 50-60 cycles per second supplied to the water bath by means of electrodes immersed therein, during which treatment the potato products are heated to a suitable high temperature such as the boiling point.

Abstract: A potato based food snack is prepared by mixing cooked potato solids with water and ungelatinized starch to form a dough having between about 40 percent and about 50 percent solids by weight, forming the dough into pieces, and frying the pieces in hot cooking oil. The dough contains a sufficient amount of free available gelatinized starch to cause the pieces to expand at least about 1.6 times their original dimension upon frying such that they produce a potato snack product having a porous internal structure encased in a dense exterior layer of substantially reduced porosity.

Abstract: In the production of reactive form coke of the sort described in Work et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,140,241, 3,140,242 and 3,184,293, where a low-temperature reactive coal calcinate is mixed with a binder and formed into shapes which are cured in an oxygen-containing atmosphere and then calcined, the use of high-temperature coke oven pitch as binder for the briquettes is made possible by adding to the calcinate, before mixing with the binder, at least about 3.0% by weight of water based on the weight of calcinate.

Abstract: Process for making a reconstitutable dehydrated, cooked potato piece or strip. Raw potatoes are cooked and a dough of separated potato cells is formed therefrom. A small quantity of the cells are ruptured to release their starch contents. The released starch alone or in combination with additional raw starch which is gelatinized after mixing with the dough are used to give the dough an adhesive character which will permit the eventually dried potato pieces to be reconstituted in water without loss of piece identity. After rupture of the potato cells the dough is maintained in a heated condition until formed into strips or pieces of the desired size after which they are dried. An alternative process employs raw starch as the principle means for obtaining the desired adhesive character in the dried potato pieces. In the alternative process the dough is processed and formed into the desired pieces or strips without heating and thereafter the raw starch is gelatinized by application of heat.

Abstract: Improved flavor of commercially decaffeinated coffee is accomplished by rapidly drying the wet decaffeinated beans with radio frequency heating the thermal and radio frequency energies required and the wavelength and duration of exposure to the same being sufficient to impart a porous structure to the bean without rupturing the same.

Abstract: A dough of about 26% solids and about 74% moisture by weight comprising cooked intact separated potato cells, a synergistic binder-film forming matrix system, and water is formed into rice-like pellets or strips which are predried to about 30% moisture in hot air after which the predried pieces are coated with oil and heated at about 300.degree. F. to texturize the surface. The pieces are then dried to about a final 7-8% moisture by weight to produce a dehydrated instantized texturized piece which can be reconstituted by standing in boiling water for about 3-4 minutes to produce a finished dish with unique rice-like texture. Other dishes such as Hashbrowns, potato pancakes and one-pan stove top recipes such as Spanish rice, rice pudding and the like can be made from the dry or reconstituted product.

Abstract: A method of producing French fried potatoes from dehydrated potato granules or flakes with a binder comprising an amylose starch component and a cold-water-dispersible starch or gum component. The dehydrated potatoes and binder are combined with water to produce a dough which is formed into a desired shape and deep fat fried to produce French fried potatoes.

Abstract: Process for preparing a food product in the form of a mousse without the use of stabilizers, comprising mixing ingredients employed for preparing a processed cheese containing 1-3% of polyphosphates at a temperature of 95.degree.-100.degree.C, thereafter whipping the mixture at a temperature of 75.degree.-85.degree.C in an inert gas, the ingredients being chosen in such manner that the mixture has, at 95.degree.C before the whipping, a viscosity of 20-50 poises.

Abstract: A food warming appliance having base and cover structures defining a portable case. A pair of opposed heating panels are mounted, one in each of the structures, and biased toward each other so as to firmly engage food positioned therebetween when the structures are closed. Foods and food trays of a wide variety of sizes, shapes and thicknesses can be positioned between the panels and firmly gripped so as to be warmed through a gentle conductive heat transfer. The heating compartment is well insulated and has the capability of serving as a cold food storage area to keep frozen foods frozen for substantial periods of time. A safety electrical interlock system normally de-energizes the heating panels when the appliance is open. An interlock by-pass plug and cord permit open case operation where the appliance is to be used to keep foods warm during serving.

Abstract: A group of novel dihydrochalcone compounds represented by the formula ##SPC1##Wherein M is hydrogen or a pharmacologically acceptable cation and R is a lower saturated alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and their use as sweetening agents in food products are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing breaded vegetable shapes such as onion rings, wherein the coating of the breaded ring is set quickly, as by flash frying, before freezing and without cooking appreciably the vegetable ring; and where the ring is made directly from onion slices, the breading is provided in two layers; an interior layer of viscous batter with fine mesh breading, and an outer layer of relatively less viscous batter with relatively coarse mesh breading.

Abstract: Tomato products of increased consistency are prepared by sequentially applying acidification and homogenization to juices or concentrates prepared by standard production techniques.

Abstract: An agglomerate of dehydrated potato particles containing a binder, the agglomerate having a bulk density in the range of 0.25-0.50 grams per milliliter a bulk porosity in the range of 0.6-0.9 and an initial moisture absorption rate during reconstitution at 130.degree.F of 0.20 to 0.35 grams of water per gram of product per second and being reconstitutable without agitation to form a substantially homogenous dough even when disposed as a consolidated mass. By proper distribution of the binder among the particles, the reconstituted potato dough exhibits uniform cohesive characteristics that allow for ready division into shapes suitable for french-frying.

Abstract: Grain, (or a milling intermediate, e.g. semolina) is heated at a temperature of 100.degree. to 140.degree.C (or 100.degree.-200.degree.C for semolina) for a period inversely related to temperature and not less than 1 hour at 100.degree.C, so as to improve the quality of cake flour produced by milling (or further milling). The time of heating t (in minutes) is preferably related to the temperature T (in .degree.C) by the equation t = a' - b'T + c'T.sup.2 where for wheat a'= 2188, b'= 31.535 and c' = 0.11438 and for semolina a' = 408, b' = 4.252 and c' - 0.1121. The need for chlorination of the flour produced is thus avoided.