Abstract: A method of producing a cereal bar is provided in which the cereal comprises a cereal mixture including ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal pieces joined together with a binder, where the cereal and binder together form a cereal matrix which is heated for a time and temperature to reduce the water activity of the external portion thereof while maintaining an internal portion of the cereal matrix at a higher second water activity. The method provides cereal bars requiring less compressive force to be formed into a cohesive self-supporting structure in providing a chewy reduced-density cereal bar with improved shelf life.

Abstract: The process of staling of starch based food products, including baked or extruded breads and cooked pasta or rice, can be accelerated over the conventional method of holding at room temperature by use of a time-temperature-moisture protocol whereby, for example, freshly baked or extruded bread is cooled and subsequently heated to allow the formation of a unified crystalline structure characteristic of staled bread.

Abstract: Bread crumb-like product particles having properties comparable to those of conventional bread crumbs are produced by continuously mixing the individual components with a leavening agent in a continuous extruder/cooker, extruding the cooked dough, cutting the extruded dough into small lengths, toasting the cut dough and dividing the toasted dough into a first part and a second part, grinding the first part into discrete dough particles, subjecting the second part to a humidifying chamber then grinding same into discrete dough particles, and combining the ground first part and the humidified ground second part and drying the combination to a desired moisture and texture.

Abstract: Farinaceous product particles having properties comparable to those of bread crumbs are produced by continuously mixing the individual components with a leavening agent in a continuous extruder/cooker, extruding the cooked dough, cutting the extruded dough into small lengths, grinding it while still moist and warm into small particles, heating the particles to simultaneously toast and dry same to a desired color, texture and moisture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a non-caloric citrus albedo bulking agent comprising obtaining albedo from citrus peels to produce albedo particles substantially free of flavedo, water-washing to reduce soluble carbohydrates, constituents, removing alcohol and water, and bitter constituents, removing alcohol and water, and finally milling to the consistency of flour. The citrus albedo bulking agent obtained from this process is especially useful as a partial replacement for high-caloric ingredients such as flour, fat and/or sugar in a food product with at least a one-third reduction in caloric density, more preferably from 50% to 75% or higher. The citrus albedo bulking agent has a water binding capacity of from 10 to 20 grams of water per one gram of the albedo bulking agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a pineapple core bulking agent comprising coarsely grinding or slicing pineapple core to obtain particles or slices of 1/4 inch or less, water-washing to remove soluble carbohydrates, contacting with alcohol to remove colors and flavor constituents, removing water and alcohol, and finally milling to the consistency of flour. The pineapple core bulking agent obtained from this process is especially useful as a partial replacement for high-caloric ingredients such as flour, fat and/or sugar to prepare a food product with at least a one-third reduction in calories, more preferably from 50% to 75% or higher. The pineapple core bulking agent has a high water binding capacity of from 10 to 30 grams of water per 1 gram of pineapple core bulking agent.