Abstract: A method is described for forming dough product containing a filling. The method includes making projections on the surface of the dough product. The projections serve to isolate a volume of dough away from the main body of the dough product, so the moisture from the filling inside the main body of the dough product cannot readily migrate into the projections. The dough product with its projections attains a significant level of crispness upon frying, and retains the crispness upon reheating, even after a freeze/thaw cycle.

Abstract: Described is an edible, water insoluble film which is a blend of polysaccharide and protein and, in particular, a ternary blend of konjac flour as a major constituent, agar and gelatin. Also, described is a method of forming the film including a deacetylating step to insolubilize the konjac flour.

Abstract: A method of sandwiching soft, smooth and fluid food between a top half and a bottom half of a bun includes, first, making the food with thermo-coagulable protein that solidifies due to heat is included in the food. The food is then formed into a flat shape having a uniform thickness and a size suitable for sandwiching between the top half and the bottom half of the bun. After applying a coating to the food, it is deep-fried while heating the coating to a light brown so that the food includes a smooth and fluid center portion and a film-like peripheral portion that is coagulated by the thermo-coagulable protein. The food thus deep-fried is sandwiched between the top half and the bottom half of the bun.

Abstract: The invention is a method for preparing a partially cooked, flexible food composition. The method includes formulating a dough of flour, water and other dough ingredients. This dough is then formed and partially fried. The partially fried dough composition has a moisture content ranging from about 10 wt-% to 20 wt-%. Also disclosed is a partially fried, flexible dough composition resulting from this method.

Abstract: Sausage casings of starch which can be processed like a thermoplastic and to processes for the production and use thereof. The sausage casing comprises a thermoplastic starch which is comprised of natural starch which has been converted into an amorphous state.

Abstract: A combination edible and non-edible product is included which has a housing formed of first and second sections of plastic or other non-edible material interconnected to form a hollow interior adapted to receive a toy or other item. At least one of the first and second sections includes a radially outwardly extending rib having opposed side edges and an outer edge, and their outer surfaces each carry a layer of confectionery such as chocolate having a peripheral edge which abuts one of the side edges of the rib leaving the entire outer edge of the rib exposed and readily viewable. The entire article is then covered with a foil wrap or the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a biodegradable protein/starch-based thermoplastic composition. The composition is particularly useful in preparing low ratio expanded foams. Natural cellulosic fibers such as grass fiber, wood fiber, chopped straw, bagasse, etc. function as reinforcement filler. A metallic salt hydrate is added to improve mechanical properties of the protein/starch-based thermoplastic. The composition is processed by conventional methods, such as extrusion and injection molding, into packaging material or articles that are low density, high compressive strength, tensile strength, and good resilience.

Abstract: An edible food container has a hollow body having an interior wall and an exterior wall and having a generally flat bottom portion and an open top. The body has a concave curve side opposite to the convex side and has at least one elongated groove on the interior wall extending from adjacent the bottom portion to the body open top so that an edible container can be filled with a fluid material for later freezing and a plurality of containers can be nested together for dispensing from a vending machine. A method of making a frozen edible product includes selecting the edible container apparatus, filling the selected container with an edible fluid while allowing air to escape through the groove on the interior wall of the container, and freezing the edible fluid material in the edible container to provide an edible frozen product, such as ice cream and the like, which can be nested for dispensing from a vending machine or the like.

Abstract: Elimination of the problems of a manual burrito folding operation is obtained by a high speed burrito folding machine which eliminates the need for human operators. The machine includes an endless conveyor having an entrance portion, an intermediate portion downstream of the entrance portion, and an exit portion downstream of the intermediate portion. A plurality of platform assemblies are pivotally mounted on the conveyor about a substantially vertical axis and spaced apart from one another. The swinging of a first movable platform of each platform assembly sequentially forms a first fold in each burrito. Downstream of the forming of the first fold, each burrito is sequentially revolved to a position in which the axis of the first fold is substantially transverse to the length of the conveyor. Each of a pair of spaced apart portions of the burrito are folded to form spaced apart second and third folds in the burrito which extend along fold lines which are transverse to the first fold.

Abstract: A texturised foodstuff is made by mixing a gell forming edible hydrocoloid (EH) with an edible filamentous fungus (EFF), gelling the EF to form a firm mass and mixing particles of the mass with EF in less gelled condition.

Abstract: Shaped articles of fat-containing confectionery material are formed by extruding a fat-based confectionery material under pressure so that it passes to and through a flow-constriction and a die so that the material subjected to extrusion and the extrudate from the die are in a non-pourable state and so that the material subjected to extrusion plastically deforms and so that the extrudate is plastically deformable, and then while the extrudate is plastically deformable, extrudate is placed in a molding tool and pressed to shape an article which then is demolded, or extrudate is fed to a nip of counter-rotating rollers having depressions which upon passage of the extrudate in the nip between the rollers shape the extrudate.

Abstract: An edible bun having a substantially elongated configuration. The bun has a base wall, a pair of integrally extending side walls and a pair of integrally extending end walls. The base walls, the side walls and the end walls define an open top food receiving cavity. Each side wall has a lower section and an upper section. The thickness of the upper section is relatively smaller than the thickness of the corresponding lower section. The open-top food receiving cavity is thus generally divided into two superposed compartments. The lower compartment is typically adapted to receive a sausage while the upper compartment is adapted to receive conventional condiments. The upper peripheral edge of the upper section preferably has an inwardly oriented retaining lip.

Abstract: A container, such as a bag or a pouch, is made from a fat-based confectionery material, including such as a chocolate, and is formed by crimping an end or ends of a hollowed tube of the material or crimping edges of a sheet or sheets of the material brought together. The tube or sheet which is crimped is an extrudate which is, upon being obtained from an extruder, temporarily plastically deformable and thereby has a temporary flexibility, and the crimping is carried while the material is plastically deformable.

Abstract: The product includes a shell which is generally cup-shaped with a rim in the form of an annular flange which projects radially outwardly of the product. This rim avoids the risk of smearing when the product is grasped by keeping contact with it to a minimum while, at the same time, ensuring that the product is held securely in its packaging.

Abstract: An edible material thin file is applied to sticky or moist food products. The edible material may be sprayed on the moist food product. The food product with the edible material thereon may be used make sandwiches or stored without any additional protection. Individually wrapped slices of the moist food product may be further wrapped in plastic films, boxed and transported. Sandwiches utilizing the moist food products with the edible material thereon may be made and stored and sold in convenience store, grocery stores and the like.

Abstract: A confectionery article is prepared which has a shell of chocolate wherein chocolate having a temperature greater than 35.degree. C. is poured into an aluminum alloy lost-wax-cast-mold having a temperature of not above -10.degree. C. to form a shell, and a remainder portion of the chocolate which is sufficiently liquid for being sucked from the shell is vacuum-suctioned from the shell to obtain a shell having a hollowed space. The process is carried out in an atmosphere having a relative humidity of less than 60%, and the process further includes depositing a frozen confection into the shell hollow space, and also, a biscuit, particularly one coated by a fatty composition, may be deposited within the shell with the frozen confection and also subsequently enrobed to provide a base integral with the shell.

Abstract: Blends of collagen type I and collagen type III having crosslinks of the pyridinoline (Pyrid), dihydroxylysinonorleucine (DHLNL) and histidinohyroxylysinonorleucine (HHL) types, wherein the amounts of the crosslinks satisfy the ratio: (Pyrid+DHLNL)/HHL=0.4-6. Collagen blends with these crosslinking ratios make excellent casings with improved properties for food products, particularly sausages.

Abstract: A conveyor moves a dough sheet along a dough travel path. A filling applicator, located proximate the dough travel path, applies filling to the dough sheet. A cooler is located downstream of the filling applicator along the dough travel path. The cooler cools the filling applied to the dough sheet sufficiently to increase viscosity of the filling prior to the dough sheet being rolled to form a rolled dough product.

Abstract: A method of destruction of sausage skins and other mainly cellulosic substances by means of dissolution with an enzyme solution. Enzymes are added to a reactor that contains a water solution, after or before which the substances to be dissolved are added to the reactor. The substances to be dissolved are dissolved partly or completely, after which a new amount of substances to be dissolved are added to the reactor. When the enzymes have been adsorbed into the new substances to be dissolved, the solution containing the substances dissolved are recovered by separating the solution and the substances to be dissolved from each other, whereby water is added to the substances to be dissolved and if desired, the four foregoing steps are repeated a wished amount of times.

Abstract: A method for making a food product utilizes an aliquot of dough disposed in a predetermined shape about a cooking member made of a material which has a chemical composition essentially impervious to cooking temperatures. The dough is cooked, e.g., boiled or baked, at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period. The cooking member is maintained in the dough during the cooking thereof. After the cooking of the dough at the predetermined temperature for the predetermined period, the cooking member is removed from the cooked dough, thereby creating a chamber in the cooked dough.

Abstract: An edible shell/thermoplastic container system consists of a first substantially hemispherical edible shell and a second substantially hemispherical edible shell. The thermoplastic container preferably consists of a first substantially non-hemispherical shell and a second substantially non-hemispherical shell that differs from the first non-hemispherical shell. The first non-hemispherical thermoplastic shell and second non-hemispherical thermoplastic shell are held together by a fastening system that can be easily unfastened to gain access to a novelty item that may be stored in said thermoplastic container.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a food product of the pizza type, in the shape of a pocket and edible as a sandwich, and the product obtained thereby. The process consists of: cooking a bottom raised pizza crust with its ingredients, of roughly rectangular shape, in a pizza oven, on the hearth and at the ambient heat of this oven, in the classical manner, up to a point near complete cooking; covering the bottom crust with its ingredients thus cooked with a thin raised pizza crust forming an envelope and enclosing the ingredients in a hermetic manner on the bottom crust, and making it one piece with the bottom crust by its edges; and placing the assembly obtained in the manner in the oven once again so as to cook the enveloped crust.

Abstract: In the method for forming a dough food product a layer of dough is disposed upon a surface. A filling ingredient is disposed upon a first region of the layer of dough. A second region of the layer of dough is folded over the first region to cover the filling ingredient and form a pocket enclosing the filling ingredient. The pocket has an external folded edge formed by the folded layer of dough and a plurality of unsealed external edges. Seals are formed around the filling ingredient by sealingly joining the first and second regions along the external unsealed edges. The maximum fat content of the filling ingredient is selected in order to substantially eliminate breaking of the seals. The pocket can include a plurality of filling ingredient servings that can be individually sealed to form a plurality of subpockets.

Abstract: A process for the production of filled dough products in which dough and a filling are co-extruding to provide a filled tube of the dough surrounding the filling. The filled tube is then transported on a movable support. While being transported, the filled tube is cut into segments using a plurality of blades which move with the filled tube and which progressively cut into the filled tube with progressive movement of the filled tube so that filling in the portion of the tube to be cut is progressively pushed out of this portion prior to cutting when the blade engages the moving support.

Abstract: An edible product having a thin inorganic coating on at least a portion of its surface. The coating preferably forms a moisture/oxygen barrier to result in a coated edible product having an improved shelf-life. The edible products include foods and pharmaceuticals. The inorganic materials used for the coating include SiO.sub.2, SiO, MgO, CaO, TiO.sub.2, ZnO and MnO. Processes and apparatuses for depositing a thin film of inorganic material onto an edible substrate are also disclosed. The preferred processes include sputtering and vapor deposition. The preferred apparatus provides for the continuous production of coated edible products.

Abstract: Film forming colloidal dispersions containing gluten-derived gluten and their methods of manufacture are described. The colloidal dispersion can be coated onto a variety of substrates to provide resistance to moisture, lipid and gas permeation, as well as provide a glossy sheen to the substrate. Foods coated with the colloidal dispersion are also described.

Abstract: Edible foodstuff wrapping foil comprises collagen wherein the foil contains finely powdered spices as an integral ingredient.

Abstract: A food product package comprises two half shells having respective mouths in face-to-face relation. One of the half shells defines an edible part of the package. The other half shell defines a receptacle for play elements.

Abstract: A biodegradable molded article produced by molding under pressure a residue remaining after taking out essential portions of effective elements in foods, and/or in materials thereof, such as lees of Sake, squeezed and strained lees of fruits, etc. This enables the residues to be effectively re-utilized by producing therefrom molded articles which can be used in a variety of fields. As being biodegradable, the molded article also permits an easy disposal without creating the environmental problem.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a food product comprising a wafer filled with a food core, process including the steps of: (i) shaping the food core; (ii) heating at least part of the wafer in order to provide sufficient plastic properties to the wafer to shape; and (iii) shaping the wafer around the pre-shaped food core, the food core acting as a former.

Abstract: Disclosed is a food product encased in a water insoluble film of glucomannan and a method for its manufacture. In the process an aqueous solution of glucomannan is cast onto the food product surface and then is deacetylated and coagulated in sire by contact with a saturated salt solution having either an acidic or basic pH. The coagulated solution is cured and dried in the presence of salt and subsequently washed and further dried to provide the water insoluble film.

Abstract: A method and a system for the production of shells of fat-containing, chocolate-like masses. A cooling member (1) having a temperature below 0.degree. C. is immersed in a predosed mass in a mould cavity (2). The cooling member (1) comprises protruding, peripheral engagement parts (4) having a recess (7, 8) which defines a reception volume that geometrically determines the upper, annular rim of the shell (10). This obviates further processing of the shell rim before the shell is joined with other parts. A tight joint is simultaneously ensured.

Abstract: An edible food container is formed by wrapping an elongate flat strip of uncooked bread dough around a conically-shaped mandrel to form a plurality of spiral turns with an overlap between adjacent turns of the spiral. The resultant uncooked dough cone is then baked to form an edible, cone-shaped container of soft bread. The bread cone is removed from the mandrel and the hollow interior of the cone is filled with a selected filling.

Abstract: An improved feed block provides discrete portions of mineral supplement and feed supplement in the same feed block. The mineral supplement is provided as an inner package that is surrounded by a shell of feed supplement such as a dehydrated molasses feed supplement. By so providing the two different supplements, the amount of consumption of each can be accurately controlled. Moreover, different feed blocks can be tailored depending on the desired ratio between the two different supplements.

Abstract: A baking pan and method of use for baking plural stuffed pizzas and/or plural stuffed sandwiches therein. Each of the pizzas and/or sandwiches includes a dough shell and a stuffing within the shell. The pan basically comprises a base panel and four cavities. The base panel is a planar sheet of circular profile and having a rounded flanged peripheral edge. Each cavity is frusto-conically shaped and includes a generally planar bottom wall and a frusto-conical side wall flaring upward and outward therefrom. Each sidewall terminates at its upper end in a rounded top peripheral edge which is disposed slightly above the base panel. The rounded top edge of each cavity is arranged for joining a respective portion of baking dough disposed within its associated cavity to a sheet portion of baking dough disposed over the base panel and on top of its cavity along the periphery of the rounded top peripheral edge to form a stuffed dough shell having a joined seam extending about the periphery of the shell.

Abstract: A method and composition for producing an edible casing from an aqueous gelatin plasticizer composition which is given specific through-put parameters by means of a elongated rotating extruder which terminates in a die extruder for forming a film. The aqueous gelatin composition may also contain chitosan and/or hydroxypropylcellulose. Optionally, cross-linking agents, coloring agents, flavoring agents, preservatives and/or antioxidants may be included.

Abstract: Disclosed are heat-sealable edible films comprising at least a film layer containing a water-soluble polysaccharide as the principal component, or comprising at least (a) a film layer as described above and (b) a subfilm layer containing an alkali metal salt of casein, soybean protein or a combination of soybean protein and gelatin, as the principal component. Preferably, the water-soluble polysaccharide is composed chiefly of carrageenan and the film layer additionally contains a polyhydric alcohol. These edible films are useful in sealing or packaging powdery foods, granular foods, dry solid foods, oily foods and the like.

Abstract: The invention comprises a salad sandwich and method of making the same where the salad sandwich is made of a baked edible shell that is open at one end and contains a tear-away bag which is filled with an appropriate sandwich fill. The tear-away bag keeps the sandwich fill fresh and prevents the sandwich fill from transferring moisture to the shell. The tear-away bag has a tear-away mechanism which, just before the salad sandwich is eaten, allows the bag to be removed in one step without removing the sandwich fill from the confines of the shell.

Abstract: Tubular, biaxially stretched, heat shrinkable multilayer film food casings comprising inner and outer polyamide layers on either side of a core layer predominantly of one or more polyolefins such as VLDPE or EVA and a coextrusion process for making the film.

Abstract: A ridged dough product is made by a method for making a ridged dough. The method includes preparing a dough and processing the dough with a means for providing ridges and valleys on the outer surface of the dough, such as a die. The ridged dough product exhibits a moisture gradient across the thickness of the dough.

Abstract: An edible container includes a truncated conically shaped side wall panel made of an edible dough having a pair of opposed side edges which are overlapped with one another, and arcuate upper and lower edges. A plurality of parabolic pieces are integral with the side wall panel and positioned in side-by-side relationship about its lower edge. The parabolic piece are inwardly folded relative to the lower edge thereof such that adjacent ones of the parabolic pieces at least partially overlap and adhere to one another. These at least partially overlapped and adhered adjacent parabolic pieces form a substantially flat bottom wall of the edible container. To form the container, a flat sheet of edible dough is wrapped around a forming mandrel so that the side wall panel is formed into a generally conical shape.

Abstract: An indented, invertable food pan may be used to produce combinable halves of a sturdy composite food product. The food pan has an open end, a closed end and an end wall. At the closed end, the end wall has at least one indentation partially or completely surrounding a raised center. The indented end wall divides the pan into two complementary shaped hollow volumes, with each of the volumes adapted to be filled with one of the two food compositions. Removing the food compositions from the hollow volumes produces two complementary food shapes which are then combined to produce a first composite half of the final composite food product. A second identical half formed in the same manner is inverted and stacked onto the first half to produce the final composite food product. In one embodiment, the end wall has a plurality of indentations to define a plurality of hollow volumes at the closed end. Each hollow volume is used to produce a separately concealed filling, with one filling for each serving portion.

Abstract: A pizza mold for forming pizza dough includes a frame having a peripheral configuration which matches the desired peripheral configuration of the dough, e.g., round, rectangular or square. One surface of the frame includes a plurality of concentric cavities formed at predetermined radial distances from the geometric axis of the frame, with one concentric cavity being formed adjacent the peripheral edge of the frame. The frame is designed to be brought into contact with the dough and the dough is formed (e.g., rolled) across the surface of the frame with the dough being formed in the concentric cavities. When the pizza mold is removed, the concentric cavities produce raised ridges of dough on the surface of the dough. The cavities can be formed in rings across the surface of the frame to create annular raised ridges for a round pizza, or the cavities can be formed in rectangles or squares across the surface of the frame to create rectangular or square raised ridges for a rectangular or square pizza.

Abstract: A precooked semi-manufactured product which is free from preservatives and is commercial. It is intended for processing to give a crispy food suitable as a snack and features a) a casing made of noodles, optionally mixed with sesame, and b) a savory or sweet filling. The noodles are bonded together by mixing the vegetable oil. To produce the semi-manufactured product, the noodles are cooked al dente, rinsed, allowed to drain thoroughly in a sieve, mixed thoroughly with vegetable oil and laid in the bottom part of a well buttered mold. The mold is composed of heat-conducting material, which is safe for the food industry. The filling is laid on to the middle of the noodle layer and covered well with noodles. The well buttered lid is put on. The mold is firmly closed and heated for approximately 5 minutes in an oil bath at approximately 200.degree. C. During this, no oil may penetrate into the mold.

Abstract: Cannelloni is prepared by, initially, forming and blanching a longitudinally extending pasta strand and then cutting the strand into a plurality of longitudinally-extending strips positioned side-by-side. Each strip is passed in a direction of its longitudinal extent to and by a roller having a configuration of a curved surface so that it is contacted by the roller surface to curve the strip so that the curved strip has an upper concave curved surface and a lower convex curved surface, the curved strip is transported on a conveyor belt so that the convex surface is carried by the belt, a filling is deposited onto the concave surface and the curved strip is formed, in particular, by passing the curved strip and filling through a ring positioned above the belt, into a tube for enclosing the filling and so that the strip overlaps, and then, the tube is cut into tubular pieces.

Abstract: A porous fibrous sheet material for use in the manufacture of food casings and the like is pressed prior to bonding and is bonded with about 10% by weight or less of a non-viscose bonding agent. The pressed and bonded material can be used to form casings having characteristics of thinness and elasticity similar to the thinness and elasticity of viscose-bonded casings, without the environmental problems associated therewith. The non-viscose bonding agent will result in significantly less shrinkage in the base web than results from viscose bonding.

Abstract: An improved chewing gum composition and methods for making same. Chewing gums are created having improved shelf life. To this end, the chewing gum is coated with an edible material that provides barrier properties, and specifically a moisture barrier. The coating can comprise: a multilayer coating of two or more materials (e.g., a layer of an edible film forming agent and a layer of wax); a single layer of material (e.g., a layer of only edible film forming agent); or an emulsion of two or more materials. A variety of different coatings are possible pursuant to the present invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multilayer organochlorine-free tubular casing consiting ofa. a regenerated cellulose substrate,b. optionally a layer of primer,c. a 5 to 40 .mu.m thick, organochlorine-free polymeric water vapor barrier layer which is characterized in that it has a permeability to water vapor of at most 50 g/m.sup.2.24 h and a surface tension.ltoreq.34 mN/m,d. a 5 to 40 .mu.m thick, polymeric organochlorine-free oxygen barrier layer, characterized in that it has a permeability to oxygen of at most 120 cm.sup.3 /m.sup.2.24 h bar and a surface tension of.gtoreq.38 N/m.The invention also relates to its use as a casing for sausages of the Kochwurst and Bruhwurst type.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a biodegradable disposable container, which container is biodegradable and reduces generation amount of the refuse, and prevents environmental pollution. The method comprises the steps of i) mixing 40-46 weight % of fine granular sawdust powder with 29-35 weight % of albumen and agitating, ii) mixing the result mixture with 17-23% of a potato starch and 4-6% of sodium metaphosphate and agitating, iii) compression-molding the result mixture into a container by a compression mold under the pressure of about 3 Kg/cm.sup.2, iv) steaming the compression-molded container in a steaming box for about 30 minutes at a temperature in the range of about 85.degree. C.-95.degree. C. and drying, and v) applying a resin coating to inner and outer surfaces of the container and drying.