Abstract: A food product comprising continuous aligned bundles of formed fibers extending between faces of the food product is provided. The fibers in this food product are newly formed and fixed during its preparation. This novel food product may be prepared by forcing dough to move along an axis extending through a passageway toward an axial opening at a far end of the passageway, while transferring heat to at least that portion of the moving dough proximal said second end and controlling the heat transfer and speed of movement of the dough such that fibrous food product with essentially aligned axial fibers egresses through said opening.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for transforming the clumped untextured putty-like and high viscoelastic adhesion physical and chemical properties of hydrated vital wheat gluten into a loose layered minimally adhering serated permanently textured fiber strand structure by mixing vital wheat gluten with grain flour and hydrating the mixture, and then appropriately appropriate shredding, steaming and hot moisture denaturation of the fiber protein, enabling the creation of moisture-absorbed textured wheat gluten analogs for ground meat fiber products, such as hamburger and the like.

Abstract: A device for sterilizing holders containing products with the aid of heated fluid in a device receiving the holders, whereby the holders are continuously passed through an elongate passage across the device and the fluid is introduced while pressure into the passage at a feeding point located between the ends of the elongate passage and is allowed to escape near the two ends of the passage while causing the pressure of the fluid during its flow to progressively decrease from the feeding point to the ends of the passage.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a sealed chamber including a sterilizing section, a cooling section and a conveyor including carrier receivers and circulated through the sterilizing and cooling sections. The flat flexible packages containing substances to be sterilized are contained in rotatable carriers. With one side of the sealed chamber is provided a sealing means through which the carriers are charged and discharged into and out of the sealed chamber.

Abstract: Packaged foodstuffs are cooked by introducing them into a pressure retort comprising a cylindrical vessel closed at one end and provided at its other end with a closure movable between open and closed positions. Within the vessel is a hollow housing having longitudinally extending walls defining therebetween a cooking chamber and forming passages between the housing and the vessel, the housing having at one end a transverse partition confronting end spaced from the closed end of the vessel to provide a compartment between the housing and the closed end of the vessel. The cooking chamber is adapted to accommodate foodstuffs carried by supports such as carts. Cooking is accomplished by introducing steam or hot water into the cooking chamber and maintaining therein an elevated temperature for the time necessary to cook the foodstuffs.

Abstract: A food processing system wherein food is successively treated by washing, blanching, and is thereafter canned and the cans are subjected to retorting, wherein the water, fuel and electrical energy utilized are conserved by efficient utilization thereof.

Abstract: A defrosting apparatus for frozen food comprises a casing defining a chamber and a tray circulating system to circulate the trays, which are removably mounted thereon, along a fixed path in the casing while each of the trays always retains a horizontal position. A cover is provided in the upper portion of the casing and consists of a pair of half members for defining an enclosed chamber for enclosing a predetermined one of the trays. The apparatus includes a micro-wave irradiator for irradiating micro-waves onto the tray when the tray is enclosed by the cover, various kinds of atmosphere conditioners provided in the chamber of the casing, and a control system for controlling the circulation of the trays in the chamber and for closing and opening the half members and the micro-wave irradiation onto the tray within the cover.