Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of producing optically active alcohol having high optical purity by performing an enzyme conversion reaction on a raw material serving as the substrate, examples of which include racemic alcohol, ketone and the acylated form of a racemic alcohol, followed by hydrolysis as necessary, using as an optical separation catalyst a immobilized water-soluble protein extracted from inexpensive and safe grains or beans in order to solve the problems of the reaction process consisting of low yield due to the occurrence of side reactions, detrimental effects on the ecosystem and their accompanying cost burden, the need for aseptic procedures and the extended amount of time of subculturing, all of which are problems associated with production processes of optically active alcohols of the prior art that use microorganisms, microorganism enzymes, animal tissue enzymes and cultured plant cells.

Abstract: Non-fried instant noodles are manufactured by kneading wheat flour together with water or water containing additives to form a dough, rolling the dough by a rolling device to form a dough sheet, passing the dough sheet between molding rolls having a plurality of pyramid-shaped protrusions formed thereon to form pyramid-shaped recesses in rolled surfaces of the dough sheet, cutting the dough sheet into a plurality of strips such that each of the strips has formed therein at least one row of pyramid-shaped recesses aligned in a longitudinal direction of the strip, boiling the instant noodle strips with steam, and drying the boiled noodle strips with hot air. The thus obtained oil-free instant noodles have superior reconstituting property and transparent appearance, and can give smooth and soft chewiness. Further, the instant noodles are well matched with soup.