Abstract: A free-flowing, coated, frozen food and a method for making the same are disclosed. Discrete pieces of a free-flowing frozen food are introduced into a coating vessel where they are agitated to expose their surfaces and to maintain their free-flowing state throughout the coating process. A liquid coating material is sprayed onto the free-flowing pieces to cause coating material to adhere and the temperature at the surfaces of the frozen food pieces to rise. The surfaces of frozen food pieces are then recooled with a cryogen. The spraying and recooling steps are repeated until a thorough, even coating is built up on the discrete pieces of free-flowing food.

Abstract: A wafer product comprises a wafer shell comprising at least two wafer half-shells coupled together face to face. This shell contains a filling of a substantially hydrated mass which includes a soft toffee core and is covered substantially by a coating which covers the wafer shell on the side opposite the filling. The product also includes at least one praline which comprises a casing of firm material, such as chocolate, enclosing a respective filling.

Abstract: Provided is a device for treating a food product in order to reduce or eliminate the detrimental effects of the presence of oxygen which is in contact with the external surface of the product.

Abstract: A food package and method of controlling heating of a foodstuff within the food package using microwave energy wherein the food package has a microwave shielding layer containing a plurality of apertures therein sized to permit penetration of evanescent microwave energy into the interior of the package with the microwave shielding layer being moved outward as the package expands due to generation of water vapor such that an interior volume of the package is subsequently protected against substantial microwave irradiation of the foodstuff upon and beyond completion of the microwave heating cycle.

Abstract: The present invention, provides natural-source compositions having consistent, effective antibrowning and antioxidant characteristics. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for making the antibrowning/antioxidant compositions of the present invention. More specifically, the present invention provides natural-source, browning and oxidizing inhibitor compositions comprising S-sinapyl-L-cysteine, N-L-&ggr;-glutamyl-S-sinapyl-L-cysteine, S-sinapyl glutathione, or various mixtures thereof. Methods for making such natural, antibrowning/antioxidant compositions from pineapple juice and/or from pineapple processing plant waste streams include efficient and effective separation of the present invention compositions from unwanted sugars, acids, phenolic compounds, and other undesirable compounds present in pineapple juice and/or pineapple processing plant waste streams.

Abstract: The invention is a specialty beverage container with a multiple colorant reservoir built into the cap 4. The colorant reservoir has a number of colorant chambers respectively for the colorants, such as primary colors red, yellow and blue, or others. The colorant reservoir 5 has a number of colorant chambers arrayed much like the sections of an orange, opening into a central cylindrical tube 7. Central cylindrical tube 7 is open into the main chamber 3 of the beverage container (bottle 1). The consumer purchases a bottle 1 filled with a neutral drink and with a colorizer cap 4. The consumer then proceeds to unlock the colorizer cap 4, select a color, and add colorant or colorants to achieve the desired hue and intensity. The consumer may then remove the colorant valve mechanism (or the entire colorizer cap) and drinks the beverage colored to his specifications.

Abstract: An article and method of making sandwiches. The article has a floor and a pair of side walls and is open along the top and at least one end and is sized to have a floor width which is equal substantially to the width of a sandwich to be made therewith and a side wall height which is at least equal to about the height of a sandwich to be made therewith. A bread portion of a sandwich is placed on the floor and between the side walls, and additional sandwich portions are stacked on the bread portion and between the side walls whereby the side walls constrain the sandwich over its height from falling apart as it is being stacked so that sandwiches may be made faster and with greater efficiency.

Abstract: A device for puffing products such as foodstuffs or tobacco comprises an upright puffing reactor having a vessel for receiving product therein. The vessel has a wall provided with a plurality of openings. A chamber surrounds the vessel. The vessel has no openings in an upper section. A first pressurized heat-carrying agent is supplied to the chamber under a first pressure, and the agent flows from the chamber through the plurality of openings uniformly through the product disposed within the vessel. Shortly before the vessel is opened via an opening mechanism, a second agent having a higher pressure than the first pressure is supplied into the upper section above the product disposed within the vessel for providing a “propelling charge” behind the product.

Abstract: Foodstuffs and drink mixes containing extruded fiber-containing intermediates are disclosed. The extruded intermediates include a soluble fiber source and an insoluble fiber source, and are useful in preparing baked goods, drink mixes, liquid drinks and other foodstuffs. Processes for preparing the intermediates and the foodstuffs and methods of lowering cholesterol with the foodstuffs are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flour based batter composition is spoonable at refrigeration temperature and has a refrigerated shelf life of at least about 75 days. The batter has an intermediate water activity (Aw) of about 0.81 to 0.92. The batters can be baked into products such as muffins, pancakes, waffles, brownies, and other foods that have a high, fluffy texture and a baked height to raw height ratio of greater than about 1.

Abstract: A roasting device is designed to fit and operate inside a conventional, general purpose, home oven. The roasting device utilizes the heating and exhaust system already in place for the oven allowing the roasting device to be substantially less complex and less expensive than existing coffee roasting systems. The roasting device includes roasting chamber or drum for containing the coffee beans. The roasting chamber has a first and a second end and a substantially cylindrical sidewall. The substantially cylindrical sidewall includes a plurality of perforations uniformly distributed along its length. The perforations allow the heat from a conventional home oven to reach the circulating coffee beans during roasting thereby producing evenly roasted coffee beans. The coffee beans discard chaff during roasting that is expelled through the perforations to a tray positioned underneath the roasting chamber. The first and second ends are substantially concave for preventing the coffee beans from adhering to the ends.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of two-component ice cream, in which a core of ice cream, the surface of which is cooled to at least about −15° C., is dipped into a fat-containing coating solution, in order to form a coating layer, and to the two-component ice cream which can be obtained with the method. Thereby, the fat content of the coating solution should be at least about 10%.

Abstract: Foodstuffs and drink mixes containing extruded fiber-containing intermediates are disclosed. The extruded intermediates include a soluble fiber source and an insoluble fiber source, and are useful in preparing baked goods, drink mixes, liquid drinks and other foodstuffs. Processes for preparing the intermediates and the foodstuffs and methods of lowering cholesterol with the foodstuffs are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coated confectionery having a crispy starch based center with a thin continuous rigid outer, coating is disclosed. The integrity of the thin continuous rigid outer coating is maintained even after prolonged storage. Also disclosed is a method for preparing such coated confectionery.

Abstract: Method for sterilizing foods using both ultra-high pressures and high temperatures. The instantaneous temperature change that occurs when pressure is applied combines a high-temperature short-time process with ultra-high pressure to deliver a fast and therefore gentle thermal process to a pre-packaged product. The process involves heating a food to a pre-pressurized temperature, subjecting the food to ultra-high pressure, which instantaneously raises the temperature of the food, and then releasing the pressure so that the temperature returns to the original pre-pressurized temperature. The method leverages the adiabatic temperature rise which occurs when the food is hydrostatically pressurized, coupled with the lethality of the pressure, to achieve appropriate sterilization conditions. The disclosure also includes foods which have been sterilized using both ultra-high pressures and high temperatures.

Abstract: An apparatus, and method for cooking and smoking food items and a smoked product produced by the inventive method. The inventive apparatus preferably comprises (a) an oven including a belt-type conveyor, for continuously conveying food items through the oven, and a circulation system for circulating a cooking medium in the oven such that the cooking medium contacts and cooks the food items and (b) a smoke generation and delivery system for delivering smoke to the circulating system such that the smoke contacts the food items along with the cooking medium. The inventive method preferably comprises the steps of (a) continuously conveying food items through an oven and (b) delivering smoke into the oven such that the smoke contacts the food items. The oven used in the inventive apparatus and inventive method is preferably an indirect-fired oven. The smoke most preferably contacts the food items in an impinging manner.

Abstract: Fresh produce is preserved by coating the exterior surface of the produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous solution of from about 0.5 to about 4 percent by weight of a cellulose derivative, preferably sodium carboxymethylcellulose, from about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent by weight of konjac, and from about 0.03 to about 0.1 percent by weight of surfactant, preferably dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate. Optional constituents include antimicrobials, plasticizers and antifoaming agents. The coating composition is effective to control respiratory exchange, i.e., the passage of gases, particularly oxygen, ethylene, carbon dioxide and water vapor, into and out of the produce, thereby to control maturation and ripening of the produce.

Abstract: A filled dough product having a plurality of dough sticks is provided. The plurality of dough sticks of the filled dough product can be connected by a web of dough. Each dough stick from the plurality of dough sticks can be separable from the plurality of dough sticks along a break line in which liquid starch had been applied.

Abstract: A food item and method of fabrication is disclosed wherein the food item is packaged in a manner promoting marketability. The food item includes a fruit-based strip having a predetermined length defined by a leading end and a trailing end. The strip is rolled around its leading end into a roll having multiple rotations with an outer layer in contact with an inner layer. Further, a region of the outer layer proximate to the trailing end is attached to the inner layer of the roll.

Abstract: A mold has a pair of generally planar side walls having joined lower edges and extending upward from the lower edges at an acute angle to each other and a pair of generally triangular end walls crosswise to the side walls and forming therewith an elongated upwardly V-shaped cavity. A plurality of such side and end walls can be joined together at upper edges of the side walls to form a plurality of such cavities extending horizontally parallel to one another. Each cavity can be provided with at least one crosswise partition and a cover that is formed with a pair of parallel and downwardly open semicircular channels can be engaged over the mold for forming upwardly projecting bumps on risable dough cooked in the cavity. A heart-shaped foodstuff is made by first filling the V-shaped cavity with a mass of risable dough.