Abstract: A freeze and thaw stabilized potato salad product and method of producing e same wherein the salad dressing incorporated in the potato salad has a hydrocolloid, e.g. gelatin, added thereto to effect stabilization and prevention of the separation of oil from the salad dressing upon thawing of the frozen potato salad containing such modified salad dressing.

Abstract: An improved method of producing crisp, non-rubbery, reheated french fried tatoes which are frozen for storage purposes after being fried in deep fat and subsequently reheated by means of microwave oven heating without employing additional hot air heating. The improved properties result from a partial dehydration in a hot air oven or a combination of microwave oven heating and hot air oven heating prior to deep fat frying to complete the cooking of the french fried potatoes prior to freezing thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing compacted, dehydrated, uncooked cabbage of increa density comprising subdividing fresh cabbage, treating the subdivided cabbage with aqueous sodium metabisulfite solution, removing the excess sodium metabisulfite solution, hot air blanching the cabbage, partially dehydrating the cabbage with heated air until its moisture content is reduced to about 5-8 percent by weight, partially rehydrating the cabbage to a moisture content of about 10 to 20 percent by weight with an aqueous solution of a food grade surface-active agent, equilibrating the solution of surface-active agent throughout the cabbage, compressing the partially rehydrated cabbage at a pressure of about 50 to 200 psi to obtain a compression ratio of about 7:1 to 15:1, redrying the compressed cabbage with heated air at about 55.degree. to 65.degree. C.

Abstract: Process of making an instantly rehydratable, non-caking, storage-stable, dehydrated fruit juice product, especially orange juice, grapefruit juice, and pineapple juice, by removing a substantial portion of the supernatant liquid portion of the fruit juice separated from the sediment portion by centrifuging of the fruit juice, then dehydrating the sediment portion either alone or with a small portion of the supernatant liquid portion remaining with the sediment portion. Citric acid and sucrose may be added to the dehydrated sediment portion prior to hermetic packaging or at time of rehydration.

Abstract: Method of compacting freeze-dried particulate foods comprising partially freeze-vacuum-dehydrating a food in particulate form to an average moisture content of about 10-35 percent, irradiating the frozen partially freeze-vacuum-dehydrated food with microwaves to rapidly distribute the remaining mositure from the frozen cores of the food particle throughout the food and thereby to uniformly plasticize the food, compressing the irradiated food to from about 5 to about 50 percent of its volume prior to compression, and thereafter redehydrating the compressed food to from about 1 to about 5 percent moisture content. The food particles may be either uncooked or cooked prior to partial freeze-vacuum-dehydration thereof, but will preferably be uncooked in the case of a vegetable and cooked in the case of a meat. The final redehydrated, compacted food mass may be hermetically sealed in moisture-impermeable containers to impart long-term storage stability thereto.

Abstract: Treating lettuce for use in salads and the like to extend the storage life f said lettuce to at least about 4 weeks under refrigeration. The lettuce leaves are subdivided by cutting and treated with an aqueous solution of sodium meta bisulfite, citric acid, ascorbic acid, and potassium sorbate. Excess solution is removed from the cut lettuce, which then is enclosed in plastic bags made of vinylidine chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer film having low rates of transmission of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. The plastic bags of treated cut lettuce are tightly closed to prevent intermixing of outside air with the interior atmosphere of the bags and the treated cut lettuce, and they are stored at about 1.7.degree. .+-. 1.0.

Abstract: A method of producing a compacted, freeze-vacuum-dehydrated food product capable of rehydration to produce discrete particulate reconstituted food of good quality comprising applying pressure to the frozen particulate food while simultaneously freeze-vacuum-dehydrating the same to a moisture content below about 4.0 weight percent.

Abstract: Method of producing compacted, dehydrated, vegetable products of increased density comprising predrying without freezing morsels of a vegetable, the moisture content of the vegetable being thereby reduced to from about 7 percent to about 18 percent, substantially immediately after the predrying step compressing the predried vegetable at a temperature of about 110.degree.F. to 120.degree.F. and at a pressure of about 200 psi to 4000 psi, thereafter redrying the compacted vegetable mass to a moisture content of about 1 to 5 percent.