Abstract: The present invention discloses an impervious inner jacket 16 which may contain an inner edible foodstuff 14 which is encircled by an outer foodstuff 12. The inner jacket 16 has one end which may be equipped with a tear stripe 20 or tie member 28 which provides a means for removing the inner foodstuff 14 from the outerjacket 12. The jacket 16 has a tab 18 on one end which can be grasped by the fingers 38 of the user to help remove the jacket 16 from inside the outer foodstuff 12.

Abstract: Pieces of cooked pasta are converted into unified masses by the use of edible, water-soluble cellulose derivatives as binding agents. For example, 2-inch pieces of cooked linguini are mixed with a viscous aqueous solution of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose to coat the linguini pieces. The admixed mass is baked to expel moisture and set the binder. Preferably, the admixed mass is compressed and baked under pressure to form a compact composite. By using a heated compression mold designed to form conventional pizza shells, cooked pieces of pasta and binder, any of several cellulose derivatives, are baked into a unified, pleasing alternative to dough-formed pizza shells.

Abstract: A method of producing filled fresh or dried pasta comprising a filling enclosed in at least one piece of rolled pasta dough having a moisture content of from 25% to 40% and comprising a peripheral portion and a substantially central portion for receiving a filling in which at least one notch is formed in the peripheral portion of at least one piece, the notch affecting the central portion receiving the filling; the filled pasta which can be produced by the method has better characteristics of consistency and palatability than the corresponding conventional filled pasta, upon cooking.

Abstract: A machine for making a food product includes a cooking apparatus for cooking 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 machine also incorporates a mechanism for extracting the cooking member from the cooked dough, thereby creating a chamber in the cooked dough. This mechanism has a gripper which is disposable in grasping contact with a protruding end of the cooking member, a holder disposable in contact with the cooked dough for restraining the cooked dough, and a motive component operatively connected to at least one of the holder and the gripper for moving the one of the holder and the gripper relative to the other to remove the cooking member from cooked dough.

Abstract: An edible frozen confection food product and method comprises providing an elongated core of frozen confection and an elongated edible receptacle for receiving and retaining the core. The receptacle comprises a cake-like bun having first and second portions in part separated from one another to form a generally channel-shaped pocket, but joined. The core is disposed in the pocket and occupies a portion of the pocket less than a whole of the pocket.

Abstract: This instant invention is directed to a precooked pizza pop-up toaster product designed to be sold in the frozen state for consumers to heat in a conventional toaster, toaster oven or microwave oven. The product is provided with a sauce formulated to prolong the shelf life of the product and to minimize moisture migration to the crust.

Abstract: Flour blends which contain waxy wheat flour and which are suitable for the preparation of deep fried foods, steamed Chinese manju, dough sheets, okonomi-yaki, and takoyaki are described. These flour blends make it possible to obtain foods which have excellent texture and flavor when consumed immediately after preparation or after being heated or thawed.

Abstract: A simple method and apparatus is provided for manufacturing raised-brim products in which the end of a continuous bar-shaped dough body is fed into an opening surrounded by a plurality of movable cutting members. The bar-shaped dough body includes a filling material enclosed within a cylindrical dough sheet. Each of the cutting members includes a slanted inner surface and a lower surface which meet at an acute angle to form an edge, and the lower surface includes a concave groove located adjacent to and extending along the edge. The cutting members are cooperatively moved such that the edges of the plurality of cutting members cut the bar-shaped dough body to form a separated portion which includes filling material exposed on an upper surface thereof, and such that the slanted inner surface pulls the dough sheet to close the cut end of the bar-shaped dough body.

Abstract: A method for making a laminated pizza crust is disclosed herein. The pizza crust is produced by resting a formulated dough mixture, cutting the dough, rolling the dough into a sheet, extruding high-melt margarine on to the sheet and folding it over the margarine to form a fatted dough, stretching the fatted dough, piling the fatted dough onto itself to create several layers, stretching the dough a second time, piling and rolling the dough again, stretching the dough a final time to a predetermined thickness, puncturing the dough sheet, cutting the dough sheet into pre-determined pizza shapes, and finally baking the shapes. The baked crust can be topped with pizza ingredients and frozen. Upon reheating by the consumer in either the microwave or a conventional oven, the crust exhibits an improved texture, flakiness, and flavor.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for improving the integrity of seams of ravioli in commercial production. The improvement includes applying dry steam to the top surface of the bottom layer of pasta dough and to the bottom surface of the top layer of pasta dough before sealing the seams together. Steam is applied via a pair of steam manifolds adjacent the pasta layers and increases the adhesiveness of the pasta. In another aspect, stresses in the layers of pasta dough are relieved by forming the individual pockets into convex shapes, reducing the stresses in the upper pasta dough layer.

Abstract: A method of making a pizza with the crust being in the center includes providing a thin layer of dough having first and second sides and further providing the traditional ingredients including tomato sauce, at least one cheese, meats, vegetables, and fruits; applying ingredients to the first side of the thin layer of dough; turning the thin layer of dough upon the first side upon a pan having a mesh surface; applying selected ingredients to the second side of the thin layer of dough; and evenly cooking the pizza on both sides with the dough forming a crust in the center and having the ingredients on both sides of the crust rather than on one side only.

Abstract: A partially baked and frozen Pocket Pita Bread dough that the end user simply needs to `bake off` in order to provide an authentic, fresh and high quality Pocket Pita Bread both in a commercial and in a residential environment without the investment of labor, time, space, expertise, and expense in special equipment. The present invention provides such a product, as well as a process for the manufacturing of this product.

Abstract: A stuffed pizza crust includes a lower layer of an uncooked crust dough having a flanged peripheral edge, a upper layer of a baked crust having a peripheral edge, and a layer of an edible filling material disposed between the lower layer and the upper layer. The flanged peripheral edge of the lower layer is sealed with the peripheral edge of the upper layer, thereby encasing the layer of edible material therebetween. A method and apparatus for making the stuffed pizza crust is also provided.

Abstract: A pasta is formed from a tube of pasta that is cooked, filled with sauce, sealed on one end, left open on the other end and rolled into the shape of a coil. The pasta is suitable for being eaten while on the move.

Abstract: The top of bread-product can be removed by a process, wherein the bread-product is subjected to forces, so that a bread product with a bent profile is obtained and subjecting this bent product to a cutting under removal of the top of the product, resulting in a bread product with a cavity within upstanding rims of bread crust.

Abstract: A folded pastry product and method for making the product are disclosed herein. The product incorporates a layered dough and fat pastry shape having a first end and a second end, a first flanged portion adjacent the first end and a second flanged portion adjacent the second end, each of the flanged portions including at least a pair of flanges and a narrowed area having side edges for holding the filling product. The flanges are overlapped to provide a recessed and sealed area for holding the filling product. The general shape of the pastry allows for efficient cutting from the pastry sheet and allowing for a minimum of wasted dough product. A method is also disclosed wherein a layered dough pastry shell is formed by cutting a shape from a sheet of layered dough, applying a filling to the shape, folding flanges of the dough shape in an overlapping fashion, indenting the flanges to clear a sealing area of filling before being sealed with a crimper.

Abstract: Edible cups containing an edible filling are prepared by extrusion-cooking ingredients which include a cereal ingredient and extruding an extrusion-cooked product strip, passing the product strip to a heated pressing device for hot-pressing the product strip while it is still thermoplastic to form cavities in the strip which define cup structures in a row and then, incisions are made between the cup structures, a food product filling is introduced into the cup structure cavity and the strip is cut so that filled cups are obtained.

Abstract: A frozen confection dispensing machine for dispensing a predetermined volume of a frozen confection. The machine includes a user interface and programmable control circuit to allow an operator to select the volume of extruded frozen confection for a particular product. The machine includes a readily accessible hollow member to supply the machine with additional mix without interrupting extrusion of the frozen confection. Further, a plurality of frozen confection dispensing machines are located adjacent a conveyor belt for filling a pastry product with a selected volume of frozen confection.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and processes for producing baked thin-walled shaped articles from baking or pouring mixtures which expand during the baking process. The bottom half (18) of a baking mold (16) for producing thin-walled shaped articles is accommodated in the bottom tongs section (13) of a pair of baking tongs (7) and the top half (17) of the baking mold is accommodated in the top tongs section (15) of the tongs (7). The mold halves (17, 18) and tongs sections (13, 15) are provided with stop surfaces (68c, 64d) and sealing surfaces (17a, 18a, 21a, 22a) and are in mutual contact when the baking mold (16) is closed. At least one clamp device (30, 31) is provided to press the mold halves (17, 18, 21, 22) of the closed baking mold (16) together; said clamp device forces at least the two mold halves (17, 18) of the closed baking mold (16) together with a predetermined clamping force during clamping and eliminates at least the play between them.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fast cooking pasta product, which has no pastry components, but which has a bottom layer of pasta which is crisp and chewy and one or more intermediate layers of pasta which have a soft and moist and/or al dente texture. The product is made with the various layers having a moisture content controlled within established limits. The pasta product of the present invention, which is preferably round in shape, may be cooked quickly by subjecting it to temperatures in excess of 550.degree. F. to achieve the desired textures without burning the product.

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: Apparatus and method for inserting fillings into foods such as bagels, donuts, other pastries and confectioneries. A base supports a movable platform onto which a restraining device are mounted for fixing a food to be filled in a fixed position. Coiled tubing is provided for insertion into the food and for conveying a filling material into the food. Coiled tubing may be inserted by holding coiled tubing in fixed position and rotating the food. Alternatively, the food can be held in a fixed position and the coiled tubing rotated into the food.

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: A process of making a filled bagel dough product and the product formed thereby. The product has the outward appearance of a conventional bagel, but has a core filling such as a natural or imitation cream cheese provided within the bagel dough shell. More particularly, a method and device by which a conventional bagel making apparatus as found in most bagel shops can be adapted to making filled, rolled bagel dough products. The invention further concerns a bagel which, in addition to being improved in flavor and texture, can be produced with much less baking time than a conventional solid bagel.

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: 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: A multi-layered pizza product includes multiple dough layers and multiple ingredient layers. A cheese or other ingredient layer is disposed between a first, bottom dough layer and a second dough layer disposed in a middle portion of the pizza. The cheese layer preferably includes a blend of different cheeses and has a relatively reduced moisture content in a desired range to reduce the amount of steam produced during baking. The second dough layer preferably includes at least one vent opening to vent steam that is produced by the cheese during baking. The second dough layer supports an additional ingredient layer that includes tomato sauce, cheese, and/or other traditional pizza topping ingredients. A method of producing a baked pizza product requires only a single, continuous baking step, greatly reducing the lengthy preparation time typically required for multi-layered pizza products.

Abstract: At least one opening is formed in the periphery of a sealed filled pasta product in sealed edges of two superposed leaves of pasta having a filling material between the leaves to form a filled pasta product having at least one formed opening in its periphery. The filled pasta product may be dried or may be blanched and dried.

Abstract: A process of making a filled bagel dough product and the product formed thereby. One process comprises the steps of mixing and kneading a quantity of bagel dough, including yeast; sealing a filler such as cream cheese within a bagel dough shell; proofing the product, steaming the product, and browning the product, with the product optionally being frozen after either of the steaming or browning steps. The process is preferably used to produce a novel relatively large (half pound) platelet shaped filled bagel dough product, preferably with toppings.

Abstract: A process of making a filled bagel dough product and the product formed thereby. One process comprises the steps of mixing and kneading a quantity of bagel dough, including yeast; sealing a filler such as cream cheese within a bagel dough shell; pressing against the product to deform the product, either with or without penetration of the bagel dough shell, to thereby form the product into a semi-toroid, toroid, or platelet shape; proofing the product; optionally freezing the proofed product; boiling the frozen product, and browning the boiled product. Thereafter the product may be consumed or refrozen. The process is preferably used to produce a novel relatively large (half pound) platelet shaped filled bagel dough product with a distinctive New York bagel dough taste, with a fresh tasting cream cheese filler included inside the shell, and with toppings optionally provided on the upper surface.

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: 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: 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: A method and machine for making churros. The machine extrudes churros through a die. The die has a central mandrel so that hollow churros are made which can be filled. The churros are extruded from the machine when an operator rams a crank on the machine. Consistent, high quality churros can be made at high production rates suitable for use in a restaurant.

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 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 process for the manufacture of an expanded hollow confectionery which allows charging of an fatty confectionery dough by an injection method. The expanded hollow confectionery is prepared by charging raw materials of grain flour, starch, seasoning and water into a steam-processing machine to prepare a steam-boiled dough, charging the steam-boiled dough into a mixer to stir the same for entrapping air therein, shaping the air-entrapped dough into a sheet, overlapping the dough sheet on another dough sheet, stamping the double-layered dough sheet to obtain flat dough pieces, drying the dough pieces, so that specific gravity of the pieces becomes 1.18-1.25, and then heating the dried pieces to cause expansion thereof.

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 continuous process and apparatus for making bread and bread-like products using supercritical fluid extrusion are disclosed. The process is carried out in a dough mixer and extruder into which supercritical CO.sub.2 is injected to provide proofing of the product. Rising of the dough is produced by a combination of hydrodynamic expansion of air bubbles and diffusion of CO.sub.2 into said bubbles as the dough is extruded through an exit die, without the need for yeast. A filler material may be introduced into the core of the extruded product by a coextruder located within the extruder, to provide a continuous process for producing a coextruded filled product consisting of a fully cooked cereal-based outer core filled with a pumpable filling injected into the hollow center of the product. Also, controlled acid hydrolysis of the starches in the dough may be used to produce reducing sugars that add desirable flavor to the final product.

Abstract: Snacks with smooth, creamy cheese fillings contain pregelatinized rice flour in the filler and casing portions can be baked or microwaved. The cheese filling contains cheese and pregelatinized rice flour, and does not dry out or leak out on storage or heating. In preferred embodiments, pregelatinized rice flour comprises from about 5 to about 20% by weight of the filler portion. Some embodiments also contain fat and powdered cheese in the filler portion. The casing contains potato flakes and pregelatinized rice flour and retains its structural integrity and does not slip on heating. In preferred embodiments, potato flakes and pregelatinized rice flour comprise from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the starch component in the casing portion.

Abstract: A process for producing a pizza crust, comprising the steps of: fitting uncooked dough into a base template, placing a first cover template thereover, pressing down the first cover template and removing the first cover template, to thereby form a base layer; and supplying uncooked dough over the formed base layer, placing a second cover template thereover, pressing down the second cover template and removing the second cover template, to thereby prepare a top layer; and a pizza crust produced thereby.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an endless conveyor formed with transverse rows of holes each adapted to receive a preform to be filled with ice cream or other edible substances from an upper filler assembly adapted to move intermittently synchronically with the conveyor during operation of the thereof. Under an upper run of such first endless conveyor, in the area at the filler assembly, is a second endless conveyor adapted to move synchronically with the first endless conveyor and carrying transverse rows of liftable and lowerable suction cups which in their turn are adapted to be lifted up through an overlaying row of the holes for engaging and removing a respective preform from a dispenser station in the filler assembly and lowering the preform onto the first endless conveyor while holding it in correct position during the subsequent filling operations. A wall portion is radially spaced around each hole to prevent displacement of filled preforms resting on the first endless conveyor but not fitting into the holes.

Abstract: A method of making a substantially elongated soft pretzel product from pretzel dough with the end product having an edible filling comprising the steps providing the combination of soft pretzel dough upon which an edible food has been positioned. The soft pretzel combination is formed into a soft pretzel dough product where the edible food is substantially enclosed by the dough. The soft pretzel combination is then baked as desired. Additionally, the combination may be subjected to a coloring agent or a caustic soda solution to provide a desired final appearance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing quick cooking and precooked filled pasta products by preconditioning a blend of a starch material with steam and small amounts of an internal lubricant to produce a semi-moist and partially cooked blend which is cooked and cooled under controlled conditions in a co-rotating twin screw extruder with low shear screw configuration and then co-extruded into the final filled pasta product by extruding the blend through a die, and cutting the extrudate, which may then be dried or otherwise processed.

Abstract: A method that comprises continuously depositing fillings on a sheet of bread dough and winding up the sheet with the deposited fillings from one of its sides into a bar of bread dough, with the fillings centered. This simple method serves to reduce production labor.

Abstract: Cookies having an extended shelf-stable soft or chewy texture throughout the cookie are prepared by coextruding an inner adherent cookie dough bakeable to a soft or chewy texture and an outer non-adherent cookie dough bakeable to a soft or chewy texture. The inner dough comprises a liquid humectant in an amount sufficient to impart a shelf-stable soft or chewy texture to the baked outer cookie dough in excess of that attainable by baking the outer dough alone to a shelf-stable soft or chewy texture of the same moisture content. The coextrudate is severed into pieces to enrobe the inner cookie dough and the pieces are baked to a moisture content of at least about 6% by weight of the cookie. The outer non-adherent cookie dough, while being bakeable to a soft chewy texture, possesses sufficient cohesiveness and firmness so as to render the coextrudate formable into cookie dough pieces on a mass scale.

Abstract: Cookies having an extended shelf-stable soft or chewy texture throughout the cookie are prepared by coextruding an inner adherent cookie dough bakeable to a soft or chewy texture and an outer non-adherent cookie dough bakeable to a soft or chewy texture. The inner dough comprises a liquid humectant in an amount sufficient to impart a shelf-stable soft or chewy texture to the baked outer cookie dough in excess of that attainable by baking the outer dough alone to a shelf-stable soft or chewy texture of the same moisture content. The coextrudate is severed into pieces to enrobe the inner cookie dough and the pieces are baked to a moisture content of at least about 6% by weight of the cookie. The outer non-adherent cookie dough, while being bakeable to a soft chewy texture, possesses sufficient cohesiveness and firmness so as to render the coexrudate formable into cookie dough pieces on a mass scale.

Abstract: Extrusion cooked coextruded food products having a cereal-based outer envelope in a thermoplastic state are cut by passing the product between two parallel counter-rotating cylinder surfaces which define male and female impression elements configured and positioned so that upon rotation, the impression elements of one surface converge with the elements of the other surface in a male to female relation for cutting the product into discrete pieces.

Abstract: A composition for use in cavity foods as breads, cakes and other cavity foods suitable for filling to prevent softening of bread-dough by forming uniform cavities and form films preventing the transfer of water and oil thereto on filling is disclosed. The composition comprises (by weight) 10% to 30% of edible oils and fats, 2% to 25% of polysaccharides, 0.1% to 5% of edible emulsifiers, and 40% to 88% of water.