Abstract: A flavored-nut product, made by coating nuts (or other centers) alternately with a liquid mixture (of water, sugar, and modified tapioca) and a solids mixture (of flour, modified corn starch, sugar and salt, with small amounts of flavoring, usually mixed with a small amount of vegetable oil), and each time permitting the solid portion to dry before the next additions of liquids. When the desired thickness of coating is obtained, usually after four to six repetitions, the liquid and solid multi-coated nuts are deep-fat fried.

Abstract: A double track deep fat food fryer has a cooking vat, a central divider wall dividing the vat into a pair of side-by-side elongate cooking tracks, a dispenser above an upstream end of the vat for dispensing discrete pieces of food product to be fryed, a paddlewheel for propelling fat along the lengths of both cooking tracks, a flipper in each cooking track to flip the food pieces as they travel through the track, a remover to remove the food pieces from a downstream end of the tracks, a movable diverter barrier on an upstream end of the divider wall which diverts food pieces alternately between the cooking tracks, and an actuation linkage underneath the cooking tracks that connects the barrier, flipper and remover together and to a common motor.

Abstract: A method for producing fried snack products of controlled shape comprises introducing dough pieces into a shallow depth of frying oil and allowing the dough pieces to travel unsupported through the oil while frying to a set shape. The shallow depth of the oil prevents the pieces from overturning in the oil while frying, so they form a controlled shape. In one embodiment, a two-layer sheeted dough is formed from dissimilar potato-based dough layers adhered and cut into layered dough pieces introduced into the shallow oil depth. The first layer is on the bottom and the second layer is at the top of each dough piece. The layered dough pieces maintain their original orientation in the shallow oil depth as they fry to form a fried potato skin product having a convexly curved upper layer and a concavely curved bottom layer. The dough pieces are partially fried in the shallow oil depth to set the curved shape, after which the partially fried pieces are finish-fried in a greater depth of frying oil.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for preparing hot food products in portions of predetermined size by rehydrating a dehydrated food product to provide a dough that can be shaped and heated. The apparatus includes means for storing bags of dehydrated product and for opening individual bags as needed to maintain a desired level of dehydrated product in a hopper. Rehydration means are provided, including a metering chamber to meter a portion of the dehydrated food product, and a rehydration head to uniformly wet the dehydrated food product to form a coherent dough. The dough is passed through a forming means to form it into predetermined pieces that are extruded from a forming chamber, and a wire knife passes linearly across the forming chamber to separate the extruded product therefrom. A product transfer conveyor is provided to convey the shaped dough pieces to a fryer vessel in which heated frying oil is provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing filler suitable for addition to foods. Raw material comprising skins, meat, internal organs and, bones of animals, are boiled with steam, charged into a cooker which contains a pre-heated animal or vegetable oil followed by, closing the cooker in an air-tight manner and, heating the raw material while reducing the pressure in the cooker in two stages. The raw material is separated from the oil in a pressure reduced condition and pulverized.

Abstract: A process for making a corn chip with potato chip texture is described. The chip has increased mouthmelt, crispness, and lightness like potato chips and it is less hard and gritty than standard corn chips. It also has a distinctive corn flavor. In a preferred process, corn is cooked in water at 140.degree. F. (60.degree. C.) to 212.degree. F. (100.degree. C.) for 30 minutes to 4 hours. The corn hulls are removed, and the corn is comminuted. A starch material is cooked in water until it is adequately hydrated, and then comminuted. The comminuted corn and starch material are mixed together to form a dough having a ratio of corn to starch material of 95:5 to 80:20. The dough is extruded, formed into a sheet, cut into segments, and deep-fried to form the finished chip.

Abstract: A method for making french fried potato strips includes peeling and cutting potatoes into raw potato strips. The potato strips are steamed, dried in ambient air, parfried, cool in cold air, parfried again and then frozen. In a modified form of the invention, the raw potato strips are blanched, cooled in cold air, blanched again, dried in ambient air, parfried, cooled in cold air, parfried again and then frozen. Time and temperature parameters of the steps can be varied to produce frozen potato strips having a relatively low solids content and improved quality or, alternatively, high quality frozen potato strips which can be finish fried in less than two minutes.

Abstract: A small, inexpensive doughnut fryer has a conveyor and separate elevator that are driven from the same shaft without interference with one another. Sprockets for driving the elevator are recessed to receive rods from the conveyor. The entire conveyor assembly is provided with a quick release coupling to the power supply. A method and apparatus for moving objects to be fried through a hot frying liquid by producing intermittent waves and eddies in the liquid in the desired direction of travel to propel the objects in a straight line.

Abstract: A method for making skin-on potato boats includes slicing raw potatoes in half along their major diameter to form potato halves with exposed cut surfaces and removing center portions of the potato halves, leaving a potato layer adjacent the potato skin. The resulting hollowed-out potato halves are blanched, parfried, and frozen for later reconstitution. Upon parfrying, the potato layer has an integrated cellular structure. The reconstituted product has an oil content within the range of about 6-11%.

Abstract: A fryer/cooker assembly for cooking fast foods and the like at a predetermined constant temperature and without contamination between various types of food products includes a kitchen cabinet assembly having a cooking pan at an upper portion thereof which is removable for cleaning. The cooking pan is provided with a dispersing pipe substantially around the complete inner circumference thereof. This pipe has a plurality of oil dispersing holes, each hole being at approximately 30.degree. to the cooking pan bottom. A baffle plate over the dispersing pipe provides a gap between the lower edge thereof and the cooking pan bottom of approximately 1/4 inch.A heater/heat exchange unit of high efficiency, high temperature output receives, through appropriate piping, cooking oil to be heated to a desired set temperature. Temperature probes in the pan and the oil input to the heater/heat exchanger coupled with thermostat control structure accurately maintain the temperature of the cooking oil at preferably 325.degree.

Abstract: Disclosed are an improved method and apparatus for heating which enables rapid heating of foods to obtain any one of a number of textures. A fried taste, texture and appearance can be achieved without using large amounts of oil or encountering the other disadvantages of frying.According to a preferred embodiment, the form of the apparatus is employed to fry foods using a heat exchange fluid comprising air containing dispersed cooking oil or fat, which performs the disclosed method. A cooking chamber is provided having a reservoir at a low point capable of holding cooking oil. The oil is dispersed into the closed heating chamber as a convective air flow is established within the heating chamber. A rotating support holds the food about an axis accentrically positioned from the axis of an impeller means which disperses the oil or fat and creates a positive flow of air within the chamber, to uniformly contact and fry the food.

Abstract: This invention relates to acidified sauce products, specifically, to products containing textured protein or analog simulating loose, cooked ground meat. This invention further relates to an acidification process for the preparation of such products. This acidification process minimizes the necessary pH equilibration time and generates a shelf-stable product with optimum texture and flavor, and low fat content.

Abstract: A method for treating sliced or sheeted starchy foods before frying, in which the slices are washed in oil containing emulsifiers such as lecithin before introduction into the fryer.

Abstract: A disposable tray for heating comestibles to obtain a deep fried appearance and texture of the resultant products by maximizing convective heating of the comestibles and minimizing conductive heating thereof. The top surface of the tray has a waffle design with an array of raised ridges thereon for supporting the comestible products on the ridge crests while minimizing conductive heat transfer thereto. A plurality of round apertures are provided in the tray surface between the ridges to allow heated air to flow therethrough to convectively heat the products. Raised frustoconical shaped fins are provided around the apertures, with the fins rising to a portion of the height of the ridges. The fins function to increase the convective flow of hot air through the apertures while not providing substantial contact with the comestibles. The raised fins also form troughs around the apertures to collect oil released by the products during heating thereof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing skins from avocados wherein the avocados are immersed in a hot tri-glyceride oil maintained at a temperature in the range of about 275.degree. to 400.degree. F. The avocados are immersed in the oil for a period of time in the range of about six seconds to one minute in order to develop a substantial temperature differential across the avocado skin and produce a generally continuous vapor boundary between the skin and the avocado flesh. This facilitates removal of the skin with only minimal heating of the thermally sensitive avocado flesh and minimizes development of off-flavors. When the avocados are removed from the oil the skins are then cut through and separated from the avocado flesh within a short time to preserve the quality of the avocado flesh.

Abstract: A process for the removal of pellicle from nut kernels is disclosed which simultaneously roasts the nuts. The process involves immersing the pellicle-covered kernels in a heated fluid at a moderate temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the oil to penetrate the pellicle and to draw at least a portion of the moisture in the kernel to the kernel surface. The kernels are then heated at a higher termperature to vaporize the moisture previously drawn up to the surface and simultaneously detach the pellicle from the kernels and roast the kernels. The process is of particular utility in removing pellicle from nuts such as American hazelnuts and Brazil nuts in which the pellicle is strongly bound to the kernels and not readily removed by simple abrasion.

Abstract: Rapid-cooking noodles can be prepared by adding to a powder mix of necessary ingredients an edible emulsifier which is solid at room temperature and/or an edible oil or fat which is also solid at room temperature, and mixing the two components. When the noodles is immersed in boiling water, they become ready to eat within a period of from 1 minute at the shortest to 2 minutes at the longest.

Abstract: A mixture of shredded potato, egg, flour, pepper, baking powder and onion are combined to form a potato pancake mixture. Discrete units of the mixture are deposited on a moving grill over a vat of cooking oil. At the discharge end of the vat of cooking oil the moving grill is raised vertically and then inverted to discharge the cooked product onto a conveyor belt which takes it to a freezing station and subsequently to a packing station.

Abstract: A quick decompression oil-frying method for producing food products. The method comprises uniformly heating a food material to a suitable temperature in an atmosphere of a pressure which ranges between normal pressure and a raised pressure, rapidly decompressing the atmosphere to such a low pressure that the water contained in the food material is evaporated at a temperature below the temperature of the food material and at such a rate as to permit the expansion of the food material, drying the food material in an oil of a temperature substantially equal to the temperature of the food material and restoring the normal pressure.

Abstract: In the production of snacks such as chips from farinaceous dough, the dough is extruded into a ribbon, rope, web or the like which is partially fried and then cut into pieces. The pieces are further fried or processed to form the snacks.

Abstract: An edible composition comprises an integrally extruded net formed of an edible material e.g. a cereal-based, sugar-based or fat-based material. The composition has a novel appearance and unexpectedly good eating qualities. The net may be tubular planar or curved and may be filled and/or coated with a compatible edible material.In the case of a tubular filled net, the net is preferably produced by extending the edible net-forming material through a pair of relatively rotating or oscillating dies having mutually engaging grooved surfaces. When the grooves in one die mate with the grooves in the other die, integral joints between individual strands in the net are formed. When the grooves in one die are separated from the grooves in the other die, the individual strands are formed. A center-filling, which may support the extruded net, is extruded through the center of the net-forming die arrangement to provide a center filling to the tube.

Abstract: The addition of a small amount of a lecithin-in-water suspension to the formulation of dough-based fried snack foods improves dough transfer, sheeting and cutting, and significantly reduces clumping during frying, without the rapid buildup of free fatty acids, and without significant darkening of frying oil normally associated with the frying of foods containing lecithin.

Abstract: Funnel cakes are cooked in a pan assembly inserted in a deep fat fryer. A substantially solid bottom of the pan assembly is located 1/2-2 inches, preferably 11/2 inches, below the surface of a hot liquid cooking oil bath in a vat of the fryer so that the batter, when continuously poured into the pan hits the solid bottom portion of the pan and rises in the oil to form a unitary mass that floats in the oil without sticking to the bottom. The unitary mass is confined by side walls of the pan assembly as the batter cooks and expands.

Abstract: A french fry product of low calorie content is prepared by dipping blanched potato strips in a solution containing sodium acid pyrophosphate and caramel, and optionally glucose. The strips containing the solution residue are panfried for a maximum time of 40 seconds at 320.degree.-335.degree. F., or alternatively sprayed with a fine coat of hot oil, and then frozen. Upon reconstitution, the product contains at least 10% less calories than a conventional french fry and as much as 45% less calories.

Abstract: In a process of manufacturing low oil fried potato chips, potato slices are fried in oil or fat at a temperature of from about 280.degree. F. to about 320.degree. F., and removed from the oil or fat when the moisture content of the potato pieces is from about 3% to about 15% by weight. The fried potato slices are then contacted with an oil-removing blast of hot air at a temperature of from about 250.degree. F. to about 350.degree. F. for from about 1 to about 10 minutes until the moisture content of the fried potato product is reduced to about 2% by weight. The low temperature frying and blast of hot air reduces the oil content of the final product.

Abstract: A process for blanching mushrooms in which mushrooms are treated with an edible frying oil at a temperature from 120.degree. C. to 220.degree. C. for a period of from 2.5 to 30 seconds and then separated from the liquid medium before being deep-frozen.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing battered and breaded comestibles, e.g., fish, and fried food products prepared therefrom which exhibit reductions in cooking fat absorbed during frying. The comestibles are prepared by applying an aqueous solution comprising about 25% to 35% of a film forming agent, e.g., gelatin or certain starches in amounts sufficient to provide weight ratio (dry basis) of agent to coating of about 0.15:1 to 0.55:1. Optionally, the coating can be subsequently dried, e.g., forced hot air convection at 250.degree. F. to 700.degree. F., (121.degree. C. to 371.degree. C.). Coated comestibles can contain a batter ranging from about 0.10:1 to 0.85:1 and breading to comestible weight ratio of 0.05:1 to 0.20:1. The coated comestibles can then be par-fried in hot oil for about 15 to 40 seconds. Oil absorption reductions upon frying range up to about 25% to 50%.

Abstract: A machine forms tortillas into cooked taco shells using a conveyor with a plurality of complementary, vertically extending forming elements which shift from a nested to an open condition as the conveyor sprockets are traversed for feeding and discharging the product. On the lower conveyor run the forming elements pass through a channel of cooking oil and then on to a station where cooked taco shells are discharged. A loading conveyor feeds tortillas in a spaced column towards the forming elements and an acceleration conveyor operates between the loading conveyor and forming conveyor for positioning the tortilla for engagement with a forming element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial deep-fryer adapted for cooking successive proportioned amounts of frozen foods. It comprises unique means for filling and draining off the deep-fry pan, a hermetically closed deep-fry pan, proportioning means and a cup distributor.

Abstract: Stabilization of carotenoid-containing edible oils at elevated temperatures is accomplished by the use of stabilizing amounts of lauryl thiodipropionate, dilauryl thiodipropionate, a tocopherol and mixtures thereof. The stabilized colored edible oils retain a large percentage of the coloration subsequent to heating at deep-fat frying temperatures as compared with the coloration of said edible oil prior to heating.

Abstract: A highly stable peanut paste for use particularly as an extender to bakery and marzipan products is produced by first pressing blanched peanuts to remove a substantial portion of the natural oil. The pressed nuts are then roasted in a first oil bath to reconstitute them and then drained. While still hot, the roasted nuts are transferred to a second quenching bath of a high stability oil. The nuts are then milled to a paste, degassed and cooled and then mixed with bakery products or marzipan products.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, before frying, wherein unwashed vegetables are heated in edible oil at a temperature below the gelatinization temperature of the vegetable starch before being transferred to the fryer. The method eliminates losses of solids during water washing and carry over of surface water to the fryer. The use of this invention facilitates the production of potato chips, french fries, and other fried vegetables with a higher percentage of recovered solids and a lower percentage of included lipids, while requiring lower energy consumption.

Abstract: A deep-fry pan for industrial deep-fryers. The pan is hermetically closed during operation to minimize contact between oil contained in the pan and ambient air and to minimize pollution of the room in which the fryer is located.

Abstract: A process for producing a snack product with an expanded coating comprising a core material selected from the group consisting of nuts, beans, seeds, expanded starchy materials coated with fatty confectionary material and shaped fatty confectionary material. While being tumbled, the core material is given a first coating by alternately sprinkling or spraying a 60:40 to 30:70 mixture by weight of a starchy flour that has small expandability but provides good savor and a highly expandable pregelatinized starchy flour and an aqueous sugar solution comprising corn syrup or a mixture of 1 part by weight of corn syrup and not more than 2 parts by weight of sucrose that is dissolved in water to give a refractive Brix value between 30 and 40.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is provided for cooking food which comprises advancing the food through a cooking oil bath in a tank. The oil is circulated by jet tubes through the tank at high speed to produce turbulence. This removes particles from heating surfaces in the tank and suspends them in the oil bath. The oil containing the suspension is removed from the tank, and the suspension is separated from the oil, usually be filtering. The filtered oil is then recycled to the tank.The process reduces oil loss due to contamination caused by food particles burned or otherwise, and is particularly suited for cooking breaded or batter coated foods such as poultry, meat, fish, etc., and for cooking food that has particles adhering thereto, such as turkey, meat, potatoes, tortilla chips, and so forth.

Abstract: A consumer operated frying machine receives food in open-top container, transfers the food to a frying station for cooking in hot oil, and returns the cooked food to its original container for consumption. Cooking oil is continuously heated, filtered and recirculated through the frying station for improved cooking. A dumping mechanism provides a means to drain excess oil from the cooked food and oscillates to loosen food products which may adhere to the machine during cooking. A sealing lip and air replenishment and filtration system combine to prevent undesirable cooking odors from entering the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A consumer operated frying machine receives food in an open-top container, transfers the food to a frying station for cooking in hot oil, and returns the cooked food to its original container for consumption. Cooking oil is continuously heated, filtered and recirculated through the frying station for improved cooking. A dumping mechanism provides a means to drain excess oil from the cooked food and oscillates to loosen food products which may adhere to the machine during cooking. A sealing lid and air replenishment and filtration system combine to prevent undesirable cooking odors from entering the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A method of preparing french fried potato strips includes cutting whole potatoes into strips, preheating the strips in water and impinging a high velocity stream of food particles against the strips to embed the same in outer surfaces of the strips. The particle impacted strips are dried, steam-blanched, parfried and frozen. When reconstituted, the potato strips have a crisp, palatable outer surface, a fluffy interior, enhanced flavor and relatively low oil perception.

Abstract: The objects of the invention are to enable the preparation of fried potato products which retain their crispy texture for extended periods of time and to prepare fried potato products with improved color control.Potato pieces, such as strip-shaped french fries or disc-shaped dinner fries, remain crisp longer after finish frying if the surface skin, which is formed during par-frying, is disrupted prior to finish frying. The surface of the potato pieces can be disrupted in any manner, either prior to or after freezing. To better control the color of the finish-fried potato pieces, the potato pieces can be quenched in cold salt water after blanching or blanched in salt water.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for producing bakery goods, and in one embodiment useful in producing so-called rosettes, comprises forming means for forming the desired shape from batter, and cooking means in the form of a tank for containing heated oil, wherein the tank includes means for moving the bakery goods from the region of original exposure of the batter to the oil to means for turning the goods upside down and re-exposing them to the cooking oil, and means for removing the cooked goods from the cooking oil, wherein said means are arrayed in tandem and have associated means for causing formed products to be moved successively from each of said means to the next in sequence, the apparatus being adapted to maintain the forming means within prescribed temperature limits and substantially entirely free from cooking liquid upon being dipped in the batter.

Abstract: Disclosed are an improved method and apparatus for convection heating which enables rapid heating of foods to obtain a fried taste, texture and appearance without using large amounts of oil or encountering the other disadvantages of frying.According to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus which performs the disclosed method, a cooking chamber is provided having a reservoir at the bottom capable of holding cooking oil or other liquid heat exchange medium. The oil is continuously dispersed into the heating chamber which is preferably closed and sealed as a convective air flow is established within the heating chamber by either rotating a foraminous support which holds the food or by causing a positive flow of air within the chamber by means of air circulating means.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for decorticating and for hulling sunflower seeds with cryogenic liquid gases such as liquid nitrogen. The sunflower seeds are immersed in the liquid gas for up to an hour to allow for diffusion of the gas into the seeds. Thereafter, the infused sunflower seeds are immediately and rapidly heated such as by immersion into a water or hot oil bath. The gas vaporization and the severe thermal stress cause the hulls to split off the seed meats. The bath readily separates meats from hulls and seeds. Yields of hulled seeds can reach up to 60%. The process is useful for both confectionery and oilseed varieties of sunflower.

Abstract: A method and tray assembly is provided for heating, in a conventional household oven, batter-coated and par-fried frozen comestibles conveniently supported or held in a substantially vertical position. Vertical orientation is such that a three-dimensional comestible having a length, width or circumference and thickness is situated so that a plane of thickness is parallel to the bottom of the tray. The novel tray assembly maximizes convective or microwave heating of the comestible products, minimizes conductive heat transfer, and also permits the user to minimize the surface area of the comestible available for moisture collection during heating. The tray assembly comprises: a tray having upstanding support elements which fixedly engage the comestible in a substantially vertical position, a means to allow heated air to convectively heat the food products, and a means serving to collect oil and liquids released by the products during heating.

Abstract: A high protein snack food is prepared from egg protein, preferably in the form of egg white, by a process involving the heat-coagulation of a molded body of the egg protein composition, cutting the body to form slices, coating the exterior surface of the slices with a liquid batter mix containing starch as a principal ingredient, then breading and deep-fat frying the battered coagulum slices to seal their outer surfaces. By this process, water weeping of the slices during frozen storage, thawing and reheating is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A potato patty is made from cooked or blanched shredded potatoes and a natural potato binder. The binder is made from cooked or blanched potatoes in which the gelatinized starch naturally present in the potatoes is extensively retrograded either by holding the potatoes at a temperature of about 50.degree. F. for at least about 16 hours, or at lower temperatures for proportionately shorter holding times, or by freezing the potatoes. The potatoes used in preparing the binder are subdivided, preferably comminuted to a fine particle size either before or after the starch is retrograded. Between about 10 to about 50 parts of binder are mixed with about 100 parts of the potato shreds, by weight, and a potato patty is formed from the mixture, preferably in a high-speed commercial former.

Abstract: A dry modified vital gluten composition which includes vital gluten modified by dispersing wet vital gluten in a food grade hydrophobic liquid in the presence of an edible emulsifier, reducing the pressure, elevating the temperature to about 65.degree. C. in a short period of time and separating the dried particulate gluten from the liquid, whereby the gluten is dehydrated and rendered substantially odorless, tasteless and more functional.

Abstract: A recirculating hot oil cooking apparatus for animal or vegetable product pieces which includes flow direction altering mechanisms in front of and behind the product entry zone of the cooker to substantially eliminate eddy currents and improve movement of raw product pieces from the product entry zone toward the product exit zone without product clumping.

Abstract: Potato pieces or strips prepared by washing, peeling, and cutting raw potatoes are immersed in an aqueous solution of an antioxidant and a texture enhancing agent, washed, drained, prefried for partial drying in deep edible oil thereby to reduce their water content by 10 to 20 percent by weight, packaged, gas-tightly sealed under vacuum in a bag made of a laminated sheet comprising a thermoplastic resin film and an aluminum foil, and then sterilized by heating under pressure. The preprocessed potato pieces thus produced can be preserved for a number of months while being stored and distributed at room temperature and require only a few minutes of final frying in deep oil or fat for consumption.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for continuously preparing a partially-fried, batter-coated, frozen comestible product, such as a fish filet, having a novel ridged batter topography. The apparatus has an infeed conveyor belt with support elements and a means for providing a hot cooking oil bath that is maintained at a level that does not exceed 1/2 inch above the top of a batter-coated comestible resting on the support elements. Preferably, the hot oil does not cover the top of the comestible placed on the support elements. The support elements of the infeed conveyor belt have a defined size and spacing which provides a controlled physical environment to support a batter-coated comestible in the hot cooking oil bath while batter begins to droop from the comestible and is irreversibly heat-set in a desired ridged topography. After the ridged batter topography is formed, the comestible is transported deeper into the hot cooking oil bath to completely heat-set the batter-coating.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preparing a chip-type snack is disclosed. A dough is prepared and sheeted. An elongated shaped ribbon of connected dough pieces is cut from the dough sheet. The ribbon is passed through a deep fat fryer and then severed into individual chips.