Abstract: Disclosed are rigid multi-compartment recloseable packages. A package may comprise a rigid tray comprising a product surface to hold food products. The tray may comprise a raised lip along a perimeter of the product surface to laterally secure the food products thereon. The tray may have a tray skirt horizontally extending outward from a top edge of the lip, and dividing features upwardly extending from the product surface to form distinct compartments on the product surface for receiving the food products therein. Furthermore, such an exemplary package also comprises a recloseable rigid lid having an upper surface substantially coextensive with the product surface, and at least one sidewall downwardly extending from the upper surface. The lid may also comprise a lid skirt horizontally extending outward from a bottom edge of the at least one sidewall, where the lid skirt is coextensive and complimentary in shape with the tray skirt.

Abstract: A novel co-fermented food product formed from oats and dairy is described herein. The co-fermented food product includes a grain ingredient, a dairy ingredient, and a bacterial culture. The novel co-fermented food product includes a set of metabolites derived from the co-fermentation of the oat ingredient and the dairy ingredient by the bacterial culture.

Abstract: A nutrient dense non-dairy food product includes water, a highly dispersible whole grain ingredient, a protein, a fiber, and a fat such that the product is free of exogenous stabilizers. The food product may also contain a fermentation agent.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide oat fractions, and methods of producing the oat fractions, of the species Avena Sativa that has a concentration of total Avenanthramides that is from about 2 to about 25 wt. %, and up to about 30 wt. % or more, higher than the concentration before treatment with infrared energy. The higher concentration is achieved without treatment with enzymes or exposure to fungal agents to increase the concentration of total Avenanthramides. Instead, the enhanced concentration of Avenanthramides is achieved through exposure to infrared energy for a selected period of time.

Abstract: A method and composition for providing hydrolyzed starch and fiber. In one aspect, the method comprises providing a first enzyme; a second enzyme; water; and a starting composition comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least a portion of grain and at least a portion of pulse. Additional steps comprise hydrolyzing the fiber and starch in the at least one material through fiber and starch hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by the first and second enzymes, respectively. Further steps comprise deactivating the first and second enzymes. In a second aspect, a composition comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least a portion of grain and at least a portion of pulse. The average molecular weights of the hydrolyzed starch and fiber molecules in the composition are fractions of the molecular weights of unhydrolyzed starch and fiber molecules, respectively.

Abstract: Providing an oat bran composition that contains water, optionally an acid, and oat bran delivering at least about 0.75 g of beta glucan per serving to provide a heart-healthy and consumer-acceptable product through application of shear to reduce viscosity.

Abstract: A composition comprising a whole grain with hydrolyzed starch. Although the starch can shift from relatively higher molecular weight moieties to relatively lower molecular weight moieties during hydrolysis, the relative proportions of the principal anatomical components of the caryopses of the grain—the starchy endosperm, germ and bran—remain approximately the same as evinced, for example, by the weight percentages and relative mass ratios of starch, fat, protein, dietary fiber, beta-glucan, and sugar in the composition. Additionally, the whole grain composition can be a powder, for example, a flour, and the whole grain composition can be granulated to a desired size to provide a powder that is highly dispersible in liquid. When gelatinized, hydrated and dispersed in a liquid, the whole grain with hydrolyzed starch can have a lower viscosity, grittiness, and graininess compared to the same variety of whole grain with unhydrolyzed starch.

Abstract: A method and composition comprising hydrolyzed starch. In a first aspect, the method comprises several steps. A first step comprises combining at least a portion of pulse and a suitable enzyme to form an enzyme-pulse starting mixture. The enzyme-pulse starting mixture comprises starch. A second step comprises heating the enzyme-pulse starting mixture to between about 48.89° C. and about 93.33° C. to begin to hydrolyze the starch, thereby providing a heated pulse mixture. A third step comprises extruding the heated pulse mixture to continue hydrolyzing the starch and further to gelatinize and cook the heated pulse mixture thereby providing a pulse product comprising gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch. In a second aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising at least a portion of pulse, and the at least a portion of pulse comprises gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled hydrolysis. The method can comprise hydrolyzing a first reagent in a first hydrolysis reaction and deactivating a first enzyme catalyzing the first hydrolysis reaction. The deactivating step can occur in about 10 seconds or less; the deactivating step can comprise adding a deactivating fluid to a composition comprising the first enzyme and heating the first enzyme using a deactivating mechanism. In other aspects, hydrolyzing the first reagent and deactivating the first enzyme can occur in a conduit, and the first hydrolysis reaction can occur in a composition that is at least 50% water by weight. The apparatus can provide a hydrolysis reactor comprising: a conduit; a composition inlet in the conduit for a composition; a first enzyme inlet in the conduit downstream of the composition inlet; and a first deactivating mechanism downstream of the first enzyme inlet to deactivate the first enzyme.

Abstract: A method and composition comprising hydrolyzed starch. In a first aspect, the method comprises several steps. A first step comprises combining at least a portion of pulse and a suitable enzyme to form an enzyme-pulse starting mixture. The enzyme-pulse starting mixture comprises starch. A second step comprises heating the enzyme-pulse starting mixture to between about 48.89° C. and about 93.33° C. to begin to hydrolyze the starch, thereby providing a heated pulse mixture. A third step comprises extruding the heated pulse mixture to continue hydrolyzing the starch and further to gelatinize and cook the heated pulse mixture thereby providing a pulse product comprising gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch. In a second aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising at least a portion of pulse, and the at least a portion of pulse comprises gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch.

Abstract: A sugar coating or glaze with reducing sugars greater than about 16.5% and a viscosity ranging between 170 and 650 cP is applied onto an uncooked dough product during a continuous process in the production of baked snack foods. The sugar coating has a pH of between about 1.7-3.3. The glaze maintains its form as a liquid free of solids at room temperatures despite the presence of sugars over 60% refined sugars. The glaze is applied onto a dough the glazed product is then baked, forming a glazed baked snack food product having at least 5% of a smooth, shiny glaze on a surface of the snack food product.

Abstract: The bulk density of food products with a center fill mat can be reduced by expanding the food strands making up the center fill mat. A method for producing food products with fillings having low bulk density includes preparing the food strands by passing dough through small holes, and enclosing the food strands by a first layer and a second layer.

Abstract: A method for making a quick-cook grain or pulse via flat plate compression or gun puffing by controlling the porosity of the grain or pulse. Further, the grain or pulse made in accordance with this invention retains the texture, flavor and appearance of the original grain or pulse.

Abstract: A glaze with a viscosity ranging between 170 and 650 cP, less than 20% sugar, and less than 4% salt, is applied onto an uncooked dough product during a continuous process in the production of baked snack foods. The glaze maintains its form as a liquid free of solids at room temperatures despite the presence of over 15% sugar. The glaze is applied onto a dough the glazed product is then baked, forming a glazed baked snack food product having at least 5% of a smooth, shiny glaze on a surface of the snack food product.

Abstract: A method for preparing a low viscosity whole grain flour slurry including hydrating whole grain flour in water heated at a temperature of 87 to 99° C., cooling the mixture, adding an enzyme to reduce the viscosity, and acidifying the flour-water mixture to reduce the pH to obtain a reduced viscosity whole grain flour slurry.

Abstract: A sugar coating or glaze with reducing sugars greater than about 16.5% and a viscosity ranging between 170 and 650 cP is applied onto an uncooked dough product during a continuous process in the production of baked snack foods. The sugar coating has a pH of between about 1.7-3.3. The glaze maintains its form as a liquid free of solids at room temperatures despite the presence of sugars over 60% refined sugars. The glaze is applied onto a dough the glazed product is then baked, forming a glazed baked snack food product having at least 5% of a smooth, shiny glaze on a surface of the snack food product.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide oat fractions, and methods of producing the oat fractions, of the species Avena Sativa that has a concentration of total Avenanthramides that is from about 2 to about 25 wt. %, and up to about 30 wt. % or more, higher than the concentration before treatment with infrared energy. The higher concentration is achieved without treatment with enzymes or exposure to fungal agents to increase the concentration of total Avenanthramides. Instead, the enhanced concentration of Avenanthramides is achieved through exposure to infrared energy for a selected period of time.