Abstract: To prepare instant food products having a long storage life, such as soups or sauces incorporating a garnishing, including vegetables having intermediate moisture content which are stabilized microbiologically and organoleptically without the aid of humectants such as polyols and sugars and which, when prepared in the soups or sauces, resemble freshly prepared products, the vegetables are blanched or cooked, partially dehydrated and dry mixed with salt. Glutamate and anti-mycotic agents may be added and the vegetables may be compacted to further enhance their stability.

Abstract: A method of forming a container in order to package separately components of a food product which would be incompatible in admixture during prolonged storage which in one embodiment comprises simultaneously forming and shaping a pot, or cup, and a tray wherein the base wall and boundary wall of the pot are disposed within the confines of the sidewalls of the tray, thereby forming two separate compartments, wherein the opening of the pot and tray are located on opposing sides of a horizontal plane defined by the base of the tray. The components of the food product are packaged by filling the pot with one food product component and by filling the tray with a second food product component and sealing each with a lid.In an embodiment wherein the pot and tray are separately formed, the tray is formed with an annular rib for positioning of the filled pot and each are sealed by a single lid in the method disclosed.

Abstract: A vegetable extract in the form of grains which dissolve instantaneously in water and which have a porous, continuous structure, a smooth surface and an apparent density of from 50 to 300 g/l.A process for the production of a vegetable extract as described above, which comprises extruding a vegetable extract in powder or paste form into a chamber where a subatmospheric pressure prevails, and cutting the extruded product into fragments.

Abstract: A dehydrated food product in the form of grains which dissolve instantly in water and which have a porous, continuous structure, a smooth surface and an apparent density of from 30 to 600 g/l the product is prepared by which comprises extruding a thermoplastic starting material in powder or paste form into a chamber where a sub-atmospheric pressure prevails, and cutting the extruded product into fragments.