Patents Assigned to Michael Foods, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8025914
    Abstract: A method that entails blending an egg-based substance, a water-absorbent thickener, and pieces of supplemental food together to form an egg-based material, the egg-based substance including a natural liquid egg component, the water-absorbent thickener distributed throughout the egg-based material, and the water-absorbent thickener effective to maintain distribution of the pieces of supplemental food throughout the egg-based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Tillis
  • Patent number: 7833562
    Abstract: A liquid egg product including particulates and the methods of producing the same. The particulates are combined with starch and water or egg whites or egg substitute to form a particulate stream, which is thermally treated prior to combining with an appropriate amount of egg white or egg substitute. The resulting egg product is a ready to cook combination of egg white or egg substitute and particulates that has an extended refrigerated shelf life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Hershell R. Ball, Kelli Schlagel, Jonathan A. Merkle, Ted A. Kurpgeweit
  • Patent number: 7713571
    Abstract: An egg-based material that includes an egg-based substance, a water-absorbent thickener distributed throughout the egg-based material, and pieces of supplemental food distributed throughout the egg-based material, where the egg-based substance includes a natural liquid egg component and the water-absorbent thickener is effective to maintain distribution of the pieces of supplemental food throughout the egg-based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Tillis
  • Patent number: 7241469
    Abstract: The present process relates to a formulation for a food product and preparation of a pre-formed filling unit for the provision of a consumable food product containing eggs, which may be refrigerated and/or frozen for future heating within a microwave oven for consumption by an individual. The process involves the initial step of acquisition of liquid eggs which may be scrambled. The liquid eggs are cooked whereupon the cooked liquid eggs are combined with other ingredients. The temperature of the combined ingredients is regulated and/or controlled during processing. The combined and mixed food product may then be inserted into a mold to provide a desired shape. After cooking the consumable food product may be separated from the mold whereupon the consumable food article may be refrigerated and/or frozen for future reheating as a portion of a breakfast or other consumable food article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Mathews
  • Publication number: 20050136172
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and devices for mass producing cooked, cooled egg products having a grill fried egg appearance. One device includes a portion for positioning whole, intact, shelled eggs positioned laterally across and above a cooking mold conveyor, and a portion for cracking the eggshells and depositing the eggs into cooking molds on the conveyor. Some devices and methods include an egg yolk splitter for rupturing the egg yolk sac to deposit a whole egg having a ruptured egg yolk into each mold. Other devices and methods include irregular shaped egg molds for providing a mass produced cooked egg having a natural, irregular shaped outlines and/or surfaces. Devices and methods according to the present invention can be used to produce irregular, outlined shaped cooked egg products including whole eggs, formulated eggs, or eggs made from scrambled egg mixes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Hairsine, Jason Matthews, Ted Kurpgeweit, Dale Weaver
  • Publication number: 20050058762
    Abstract: A custard caramel sauce formed of a pasteurized oil and water emulsion in which the oil can include butter and in which the water includes sugar dissolved in the water, and in which an enzyme-modified yolk (EMY) is present as an emulsifier. The present invention provides caramel and caramel sauces having an egg or custard-type flavor. Egg yolk is used as an emulsifier, at least partially in place of the cream conventional used to make caramels. The use of egg yolk is made possible by using enzyme-modified yolk in place of unprocessed egg yolk. As the mixture is heated, the proteins are able to thicken the sauce, but the EMY is able to keep the sauce from breaking into fat/oil and aqueous phases. The enzyme-modified yolk also enables providing a liquid custard caramel sauce that can be sold in a cooled refrigerated package and subsequently reheated without the unappealing coagulation of the egg yolk proteins and subsequent phase separation in the sauce after heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kroening
  • Patent number: 6814999
    Abstract: The present process relates to forming of precooked egg patties for future heating within a microwave oven for consumption as a portion of a food article. The process involves the initial step of acquisition of liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and/or liquid egg yolks mixed with leavening ingredients (a mix of an acid and a base) to create an egg patty with improved texture and appearance for use within a breakfast sandwich following initial cooking. The following ingredients may be added to further improve the product: non-fat dry milk, modified food starch, gums, and emulsifiers. The process in summary involves adding to liquid eggs leavening ingredients or agents and then cooking of the mixed eggs and leavening ingredients prior to the dissipation of the leavening ingredients to form an egg patty having improved appearance and a light and airy texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Aloysius J. Knipper, Lauren S. Beam
  • Publication number: 20030091720
    Abstract: The present process relates to forming of precooked egg patties for future heating within a microwave oven for consumption as a portion of a food article. The process involves the initial step of acquisition of liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and/or liquid egg yolks mixed with leavening ingredients (a mix of an acid and a base) to create an egg patty with improved texture and appearance for use within a breakfast sandwich following initial cooking. The following ingredients may be added to further improve the product: non-fat dry milk, modified food starch, gums, and emulsifiers. The process in summary involves adding to liquid eggs leavening ingredients or agents and then cooking of the mixed eggs and leavening ingredients prior to the dissipation of the leavening ingredients to form an egg patty having improved appearance and a light and airy texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Aloysius J. Knipper, Lauren S. Beam
  • Patent number: 6524638
    Abstract: The present process relates to forming of precooked egg patties for future heating within a microwave oven for consumption as a portion of a food article. The process involves the initial step of acquisition of liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and/or liquid egg yolks mixed with leavening ingredients (a mix of an acid and a base) to create an egg patty with improved texture and appearance for use within a breakfast sandwich following initial cooking. The following ingredients may be added to further improve the product: non-fat dry milk, modified food starch, gums, and emulsifiers. The process in summary involves adding to liquid eggs leavening ingredients or agents and then cooking of the mixed eggs and leavening ingredients prior to the dissipation of the leavening ingredients to form an egg patty having improved appearance and a light and airy texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Aloysius J. Knipper, Lauren S. Beam
  • Patent number: 6475550
    Abstract: The present process relates to forming of precooked egg patties for future heating within a microwave oven for consumption as a portion of a food article. The process involves the initial step of acquisition of liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and/or liquid egg yolks mixed with leavening ingredients (a mix of an acid and a base) to create an egg patty with improved texture and appearance for use within a breakfast sandwich following initial cooking. The following ingredients may be added to further improve the product: non-fat dry milk, modified food starch, gums, and emulsifiers. The process in summary involves adding to liquid eggs leavening ingredients or agents and then cooking of the mixed eggs and leavening ingredients prior to the dissipation of the leavening ingredients to form an egg patty having improved appearance and a light and airy texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Aloysius J. Knipper, Lauren S. Beam
  • Patent number: 6455094
    Abstract: The present invention provides the discovery that efficient heating of shell eggs can be achieved using convection currents of humidity controlled air. The humidity controlled air heating process described herein provides an efficient and attractive means of pre-heating and/or pasteurizing (i.e., pre-heating and holding) intact shell eggs. Also provided are pasteurized shell eggs produced by the inventive methods. As further aspects, the present invention also provides methods of cooling shell eggs as well as surface sanitizing shell eggs using humidity controlled air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: Michael Foods, Inc., Belovo S.A.
    Inventors: Hershell R. Ball, Fabien De Meester, James D. Schuman
  • Publication number: 20020114875
    Abstract: The present process relates to forming of precooked egg patties for future heating within a microwave oven for consumption as a portion of a food article. The process involves the initial step of acquisition of liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and/or liquid egg yolks mixed with leavening ingredients (a mix of an acid and a base) to create an egg patty with improved texture and appearance for use within a breakfast sandwich following initial cooking. The following ingredients may be added to further improve the product: non-fat dry milk, modified food starch, gums, and emulsifiers. The process in summary involves adding to liquid eggs leavening ingredients or agents and then cooking of the mixed eggs and leavening ingredients prior to the dissipation of the leavening ingredients to form an egg patty having improved appearance and a light and airy texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Aloysius J. Knipper, Lauren S. Beam
  • Patent number: 6413572
    Abstract: The present process relates to forming of precooked egg patties for future heating within a microwave oven for consumption as a portion of a food article. The process involves the initial step of acquisition of liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and/or liquid egg yolks mixed with leavening ingredients (a mix of an acid and a base) to create an egg patty with improved texture and appearance for use within a breakfast sandwich following initial cooking. The following ingredients may be added to further improve the product: non-fat dry milk, modified food starch, gums, and emulsifiers. The process in summary involves adding to liquid eggs leavening ingredients or agents and then cooking of the mixed eggs and leavening ingredients prior to the dissipation of the leavening ingredients to form an egg patty having improved appearance and a light and airy texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Aloysius J. Knipper, Lauren S. Beam
  • Patent number: 6406727
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pasteurizing egg products utilizing high frequency radio waves to heat the egg products being pasteurized. Suitable products to be treated include liquid egg products, packaged liquid egg products, and shell eggs. The methods may be used with either continuous processing systems or batch processing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignees: North Carolina State University, Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Hamid-Samimi, Kenneth R. Swartzel, Hershell R. Ball, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6217926
    Abstract: The Aqueous Extraction Process To Selectively Remove Phospholipid From Egg Yolks in general utilizes an aqueous method to separate a majority of the proteins from the egg yolk material using ionic strength, pH and gravitational centrifuge forces. The method is initiated by the separation of the egg yolks from the albumen. Next the egg yolk material is mixed with water to dilute the egg yolk into a DY fraction. The pH of the mixed egg yolk material is then adjusted by the addition of acids, bases, and/or salts. The adjusted and mixed egg yolk material is then exposed to gravitational separation through the use of a centrifuge into layers of a DYS fraction and a DYP fraction. The DYS fraction is then separated from the DYP fraction. Viscosity agents are then added to the DYS fraction where blending occurs. The DYS fraction is exposed to gravitational separation forces for separation into a cream CMC P fraction and an aqueous fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Merkle, Herschell Ball
  • Patent number: 5700504
    Abstract: A method for reducing irradiation-induced changes in shell eggs and shell-less intact packaged eggs undergoing irradiation sufficient to cause a three-log reduction in Salmonella sp. The method utilizes pre-radiation heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk K. Hale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5132288
    Abstract: In vitro results indicate that trimethoprim may be ineffective against S. enteritides. However, in vivo results show that trimethoprim alone and in combination with polymyxin B sulfate is effective on S. enteritidis infections in poultry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. Johnson, Michael C. Goodnough