Abstract: A fryer is provided for cooking food in a small volume of oil. The fryer includes a main body with a seat for supporting a tilted tank designed to contain the volume of oil in a bottom angular portion thereof. The fryer also includes a heater, and at least one mixing blade inside the tank.

Abstract: Deep fryers and associated accessories providing increased efficiency and convenience in the production of deep-fried, steamed and boiled foods. Multiple cooking cycles and versatile food support means to fully cook foods are provided. Special advantages for larger unitary foods, such as for example, a large turkey, are provided. Advantages include without limitation minimizing countertop usage; reduction in the use of frying oil; compact storage; reduced shipping costs; reduced warehousing and manufacturing costs; and being lighter and more easy to handle in the kitchen. Accessory items simplify and facilitate production of deep fried foods, including cutting foods into shapes appropriate to produce French fries and blooming onions. Other accessories facilitate the transference and maintenance of frying oil including: returning frying oil to original containers for storage and disposal; and filtering frying oil to prolong its useful life.

Abstract: The electric oven for cooking a food product in a very low level of fat substance comprises a cooking chamber, at least one electrical heating resistance housed in the cooking chamber, a vessel mountable inside the cooking chamber and housing at least one rotatable stirring blade that is able to rotate the food product to cover the latter with a film of fat substance, and a drive pin to drive said stirring blade in rotation. The stirring blade is configured so as to displace the food product such that at last a portion of the surface of the latter comes into contact with the fat substance for combined cooking by action of air on the portion of the food above the level of fat substance and by action of fat substance immersion at least on a portion of the food below the level of fat substance.

Abstract: A novel toasted flavor additive for enhancing the toasted flavor and appearance of food products. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, toasted corn flavor additive (“TCF”) is made by the steps of cooking whole corn kernels in a solution of lime and water; steeping the corn; draining and washing the corn; grinding, sheeting and cutting the corn into pieces; toasting the pieces until significant browning has occurred beyond the level normally associated with consumed masa products; and grinding the toasted pieces into a powder that can be administered as toasted corn flavor additive.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method for making a healthy snack food having an appearance and taste similar to conventional fried snack products without the use of an oil-frying process. The method of the present invention includes the steps of providing food slices from a starch-based food or dough. The food slices can be blanched and a controlled amount of oil can be added to enhance final organoleptical properties. The food slices are then rapidly dehydrated to a much lower moisture content in a primary drying step that simulates conventional frying dehydration rates. A food snack, such as a corn or potato-based snack, produced by this method is a low-fat, ready-to-eat snack having the conventional texture and taste associated with fried snack products.

Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of asparagine, a pre-cursor of acrylamide, in food products that are thermally processed. This invention permits the production of foods having significantly reduced levels of acrylamide. The method relies on contacting a potato feed such as potato slices containing asparagine, an acrylamide pre-cursor, with a leaching solution to extract asparagine out of the potato feed. Thermally processing the leached potatoes will result in a potato product having a lower level of acrylamide than a non-leached, thermally processed potato product.

Abstract: A cut vegetable product such as a wedge-cut potato includes a pair of cut surfaces oriented generally at an acute angle, and each extending and diverging from a common tip toward a heel. Each of the cut surfaces defines a generally wave-shaped configuration with a wave pitch and a wave amplitude. At least one and preferably both of the wave pitch and wave amplitude increases progressively from the common tip toward the heel.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a cooked food product using multiple sections is described. The system includes a frying section for receiving and frying an uncooked food product to produce a partially cooked food product; a transition section operatively connected to the frying section for receiving and conveying the partially cooked food product at a substantially stable food temperature; and a baking section operatively connected to the transition section for receiving and baking the partially cooked food product conveyed from the transition section to produce the cooked food product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a frying device for carrying out a frying process for food products (2) comprising a frying oil reservoir (20) which can be filled with a volume of frying oil; a food product carrier (3) which can at least partially be immersed in the frying oil in the frying oil reservoir and at least one heating unit (30) having at least one heating element (31) which is positioned at least partially inside the frying oil reservoir and which has a heating surface (32a) which is in contact with the frying oil in the frying oil reservoir during the frying process. Characteristic of the frying device according to the invention is the fact that the heating unit comprises a frying oil duct (35) with a channel-heating surface (35a). Furthermore, the heating unit comprises a first pump (38) for passing frying oil through the frying oil duct.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an edible fat and oil composition which makes possible to prepare cooked foods having good taste and smell. The present invention also discloses an edible fat and oil composition comprising palm olein having an iodine value of 64 or more and corn oil.

Abstract: A dietary supplement is provided which includes at least one triglyceride-based edible fat and between 3% and 50% by weight of triglyceride recrystallized phytosterols. The dietary supplement can be in the form of a capsule, pill or wafer. Additionally, the dietary supplement can be combined with protein, vitamins, minerals, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: This patent pertains to a method of mixing at least one oil with an effective absorption lowering amount of a modified starch to form a mixture; and frying a food portion in the mixture. The patent also pertains to the resulting fried food portion which has a reduced oil content while maintaining acceptable taste, texture, and appearance.

Abstract: Cooking of French fried potatoes by facilitating a generally vertical arrangement of potato strips while in the frying operation is disclosed wherein the slices may be cooked within a very deep pack while oil is urged to flow upwardly through the pack and steam entrapment within the cooking slice pack is minimized. A conveyor belt carrying the slices through the cooker has a multiplicity of openings facilitating oil flow there through and the cooker is configured to permit oil discharge for reheating purposes both laterally and longitudinally of the processing path.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a edible fat and oil composition which suppresses cooked odor of oil. The present invention also discloses an edible fat and oil composition which comprises palm olein having an iodine value of 66 or more and rapeseed oil.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an edible fat and oil composition having a good flavor. The present invention also discloses an edible fat and oil composition comprising palm olein having an iodine value of 64 or more, corn oil and rapeseed oil.

Abstract: Disclosed are frying shortening compositions that comprise liquid oil component comprising: (i) a first liquid oil comprising canola oil; and (ii) a second liquid oil selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, mid-oleic sunflower oil, corn oil, and combinations thereof; and (b) about 1-30 wt %, e.g., about 16-20 wt %, of a hard fat component comprising a hydrogenated vegetable oil, e.g., hydrogenated cottonseed oil. The fried foods are low in trans-fatty acids and saturated fatty acids and may be used to prepare fried food articles, e.g., doughnuts, having a high food-to-oil ratio.

Abstract: A novel method for controlling adhesion of food product to process surfaces by manipulating fryer oil composition and treating process surfaces. Adding various chemical species to fryer oil allows control of interfacial tension between food product and process surface. Process surfaces may be abraded to reduce surface area in contact with food product thereby reducing undesirable product adhesion.

Abstract: Frying processes utilizing cooking oil at elevated temperatures can cause various degradation effects in the oil including oxidation, hydrolysis and/or polymerization. In the absence of additives to protect the oil, the nutritional profile and cooking performance of degraded oil diminishes the quality of food cooked therein. The disclosed methods and compositions provide beneficial and cost effective improvements in the cooking performance of oil used at elevated temperatures, for example, in food frying equipment.

Abstract: A process for preparation of KOFTA comprising steps of boiling potato and vegetables etc, mixing with binder such as gram flour and salt, spices, condiments etc to obtain a mixture subjected to freeze drying and/or vacuum frying. A process for preparation of lentil/cereal/vegetables preparation comprising steps of soaking, boiling, freeze drying and vacuum frying. A method of preparing snack comprising steps of partially cooking the snack followed by vacuum frying. Further, this invention is directed to paneer preparation comprising of paneer, vegetable, spices and flavourings. A KOFTA preparation comprising of KOFTA, vegetable, spices and flavourings. A curry masala preparation comprising of vegetable, spices and flavourings. The ingredients are freeze dried and/or vacuum fried wherever required.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method for preparing a sliced food product comprising a low amount of acrylamide. The food product is preferably of plant origin, such as a tuber or a vegetable, preferably the food product is potato-based. The invention also relates to the use of a short heat treatment to accelerate low temperature extraction of asparagine from an asparagine-containing sliced food intermediate.

Abstract: A continuous oil fryer used to fry food slices, such as potato chips, having an internal oil stripping capability. The fryer accumulates the steam produced by the frying process in a hood and utilizes such steam, after superheating the steam by passing it through a heat exchanger, to strip oil from product immediately upon removal from the hot oil bath by passing the superheated steam through a product bed while on an output conveyor. The superheated steam removes oil from the product on the output conveyor without increasing the moisture level of the product. The fryer therefore accomplishes the same function as a low-oil stripper without increasing the footprint of the frying unit and with less energy.

Abstract: Deep frying oils combined with phytosterols are instrumental in deep-fried food products and methods for enhancing health characteristics. The deep frying compositions have a phytosterol ester content of up to about 50 weight percent, and at least about 50 weight percent of the phytosterols are transferred into the food product.

Abstract: An improved parfry oil blend and related production process for parfrying vegetable pieces particularly such as French fry potato strips followed by freezing for packaging, storage and/or shipment before finish preparation, wherein the parfry oil blend reduces post-parfry freeze clumping. The improved oil blend comprises a substantially fully hydrogenated hard stock component selected from the group consisting essentially of cottonseed and palm oils at a proportion of less than 11% and preferably about 8-10% by weight. This hard stock component is blended with a liquid stock component such as a zero grams trans fat (ZGTF) liquid oil such as soy, canola, safflower, and the like. When potato strips are parfried in this improved oil blend, and then frozen, freezer clumps are substantially eliminated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process and apparatus for producing low oil fried food products having less than 30 percent by weight oil based on the total weight of an unseasoned chip and a reduced level of acrylamide. The process discloses simultaneously contacting the par-fried food with a steam knife and a steam sweep.

Abstract: The invention relates to an appliance (1) for cooking food, the appliance comprising firstly a receptacle (2) for containing the food and secondly a blade (8) placed within the receptacle (2), said receptacle (2) and blade (8) being designed to be driven with relative rotary motion so as to stir the food in the receptacle (2), the appliance being characterized in that the blade (8) includes turnover means (13) shaped to act under the effect of the relative rotary motion to cause at least a fraction of the food to turn over in a turnover direction (D) that presents, in the plane of the rotary motion, a majority component that is radial.

Abstract: An electric field forming apparatus for a fryer includes an electrode which is disposed along an inner wall surface of an oil vat, and a power supply which supplies an alternating current at a frequency higher than a power line frequency to the electrode.

Abstract: Potato chip cooking process and apparatus includes controlled cooking of potato slices from the initial to the final cooking stages. Slices are deposited in hot cooking oil to develop a slice pack which is carried along a cooking path during which the pack is agitated and mixed by paddle means or tumbled so that the individual slices receive maximum contact with the cooking medium. The cooking path may be divided into one or more stages in each of which the cooking times and temperatures are selected and maintained to produce potato chips of different styles having a final moisture content in the range of 1.2% to 2%. The apparatus includes temperature and oil circulation controls for the oil heat exchangers dedicated to each stage of a cooking protocol. A multiplicity of variable rate, rotatable paddle wheel assemblies are positioned along the cooking path for thorough agitation of the potato pack encouraging good oil contact with the individual slices and consistent, chip-to-chip final moisture content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable and liquid olein fraction wherein less than 8.6% of the TAG species of said olein fraction have the general formula SMS and at least 26% of TAG species of said olein fraction have the general formula SMM, wherein S represents a saturated fatty acid and M represents a monoenoic fatty acid, which olein fraction is obtainable by fractionation of a high oleic high saturated sunflower oil; and collecting the liquid fraction. The invention further relates to a method for preparation of a stable and liquid olein fraction by low temperature fractionation of a high oleic, high saturated sunflower oil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rice oil, rice bran and rice seeds which have altered levels of oleic acid, palmitic acid and/or linoleic acid. The present invention also provides methods for genetically modifying rice plants such that rice oil, rice bran and rice seeds produced therefrom have altered levels of oleic acid, palmitic acid and/or linoleic acid. Specifically this is achieved through modulation of Fad2 and/or FatB expression.

Abstract: A method is described wherein products, such as potato chips, vegetables, fruits, nuts or the like are fried in at least two stages. In the first stage the products are fried at a temperature between 90-190° C., where after the products are being transported to the second stage. In the second stage the products are subjected to frying under reduced pressure at 25-150 mbar at a temperature between 100-145° C. In the second stage evaporation is improved and maintained at a high level, because under said reduced vacuum conditions the evaporation temperature drops considerably and consequently the evaporation out of the products continues. This reduces the quantity of fatty and oily frying substance that is taken up in this stage by the product.

Abstract: The present invention involves an intelligent cooking method, especially a cooking method defined as oil stir-fry in Chinese cuisine. The present cooking method is comprised of the following steps: feeding heat transfer medium, feeding cooking materials, dispersing and/or turning-over cooking materials, separating cooking materials from oil, re-feeding cooking materials, stir-frying and/or turning-over cooking materials, etc. The method can perform intelligent cooking and can accurately control the duration and degree of heating to achieve the effect of stir-fry which is one of main cuisine techniques.

Abstract: Snack products are cooled after stacking in a rigid container by blowing cooled, dry area into the containers. The process provides sufficient cooling to prevent implosion of the rigid containers under conditions of changing temperature and pressure yet requires much less space than conventional cooling.

Abstract: A ready to eat potato product having less than 20% fat prepared by frying dehydrated whole potato pieces having between 6.0 and 8.5% moisture to expand the starch in the potato pieces.

Abstract: A method of controlling the movement of snack food products being cooked continuously in a bath of hot cooking oil to the end of realizing a more uniform moisture content in the final product employs a plurality of segmented paddle wheels with blades to penetrate and agitate vigorously the product pack as the wheels are rotated in both directions. Also disclosed are a variety of segmented paddle wheel configurations and their functions of impeding and urging product flow during cooking.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for improving the texture and juiciness of a meat product intended for cooking, among others of those intended for frying. In particular, the invention relates to a novel marinade for improving the tenderness and mouthfeel of a meat product. Provided is a meat marinade comprising a fat and a protein wherein said fat is present in an amount of about 0.1-25 percent by weight (w %) of the marinade, preferably 0.3-20 w %, more preferably 0.5-10 w %, and wherein said protein is present in an amount of about 0.05-10 percent by weight (w %) of the marinade, preferably 0.8-6 w %, more preferably 1-5 w %. Said marinade may comprise a fat- and protein-containing dairy product, such as cooking cream. Also provided is a method for improving the tenderness of a meat product, comprising marinating said meat product with a marinade according to the invention.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules are described encoding a starch granule-bound protein as well as methods and recombinant DNA molecules for the production of transgenic plant cells and plants synthesizing a modified starch with modified viscosity properties and a modified phosphate content. Moreover, the plant cells and plants resulting from those methods as well as the starch obtainable therefrom are described.

Abstract: A method for making potato chips involving a marination step in a brine and acacia gum solution prior to frying. Potato pieces or slices are immersed for a short period of time in a brine solution that comprises soluble acacia gum. This immersion marinates the potato pieces prior to a frying step. The resultant potato chips, after frying, have a reduced fat content but exhibit otherwise very similar characteristics to a potato chip made by prior art frying methods.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in corn-based food products, corn-based food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of asparagine in a corn-based food material before final heating (e.g., cooking). In another aspect, the method comprises adding to a corn-based food material an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the amide group of free asparagine. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a corn-based food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or asparagine.

Abstract: A method for making potato chips involving a marination step in a brine and acacia gum solution prior to frying. Potato pieces or slices are immersed for a short period of time in a brine solution that comprises soluble acacia gum. This immersion marinates the potato pieces prior to a frying step. The resultant potato chips, after frying, have a reduced fat content but exhibit otherwise very similar characteristics to a potato chip made by prior art frying methods.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in food products, food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of asparagine in a food material before final heating (e.g., cooking). In another aspect, the method comprises adding to a food material an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the amide group of free asparagine. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or asparagine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing fry, which comprises cooking with an oil composition containing at least 15% by weight of diglycerides as a frying oil, wherein the content of nitrogen in at least 5 liters of the oil composition is kept to 0.2% by weight or lower. The method permits repeatedly producing fry good in appearance and flavor without causing coloring of an oil and emission of offensive odor in fry workshops, daily dish shops, eating houses, restaurants, etc. where fry is mass-produced over a long period of time using a diglyceride-containing oil composition having an effect to reduce the accumulation of body fat to prevent obesity.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in food products, food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of asparagine in a food material before final heating (e.g., cooking). In another aspect, the method comprises adding to a food material an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the amide group of free asparagine. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or asparagine.

Abstract: A basket assembly for use with a deep fryer having a lower foraminous basket and an upper foraminous insert which quickly and easily attaches to the lower basket at a predetermined location intermediate the top and bottom of the lower basket to thereby hold the food in place beneath the surface of a hot cooking liquid such as oil. Advantages of the assembly are that it forces foods down to increase the efficiency of flash frying, it provides the ability to cook more than one item at a time while keeping them separated, and it provides a food product which cooks faster because it is unnecessary to turn food which floats to the top, thereby resulting in less fat absorption.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which reduces the oil content of a potato chip. The method teaches that a steeper, faster temperature drop upon initial introduction of the potato slice to the fryer, followed by a longer period of exposure to lower temperatures before increasing to standard frying temperatures, reduces oil content of a potato chip. The invention further discloses a pre-treatment method which involves submerging the potatoes in a hot water bath which results in decreased oil content. Additionally, the invention discloses a post-treatment method involving subjecting the potato chip to superheated steam that further reduces oil content. The two pre and post-treatment methods, combined with the primary temperature scheme method for reducing oil content, yield a potato chip with significantly reduced oil content.

Abstract: A deep fat fryer with continuous oil filtering and purging of sediments therefrom during uninterrupted fryer operation is provided. The filter includes a cylindrical hollow housing with a first end and a second end and a hollow cylindrical screen with a longitudinal axis and first and second ends. The screen is disposed coaxially within the hollow housing to define an annulus therebetween. A piston mounted within the screen and reciprocatingly movable along the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends of the screen. A pump, seal, and associate motor are provided to provide continuous oil flow through the filter and the remainder of the fryer. A heat exchanger is provided downstream of the pump to transfer heat from the fryer to the oil flowing through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of acrylamide in thermally processed foods. This invention permits the production of foods having significantly reduced levels of acrylamide. The method relies on the manipulation of various unit operations used in the production of food products, particularly the peeling, cooking, and rejecting unit operations. For example, the peeling unit operation can be modified to provide a more fully peeled potato slice. The cooking unit operation can be modified by cooking to higher moisture and/or at lower hot oil temperatures to minimize the high-temperature/low-moisture conditions most favorable for acrylamide formation. The rejection unit operation can be modified to reject defects that result in high levels of acrylamide.

Abstract: There is disclosed an edible oil composition, particularly for use in frying and cooking foods, which has a high stability under thermal stress, with less development of degradation products during frying and cooking and less absorption of these degradation products on the surface of the food. The composition consists of a mixture of vegetable oils characterized by a ratio by weight (R) of monounsaturated fatty acids to polyunsaturated fatty acids in the range from 5 to 8, a percentage by weight of saturated fatty acids (S) in the range from 18 to 22%, and a content of antioxidants in the range from 50 to 500 ppm. Advantageously, these antioxidants are produced by molecular distillation from natural lipid starting materials.

Abstract: A cooking facilitator which is preferably portable and well suited for use as both a timer and cooking process facilitator having particular usefulness with cooking objects which have a characteristic associated with establishing a cooking time such as the weight of a turkey in the case of deep frying a turkey or the thickness of a steak in deep frying the same. A gas flow timer for shutting off an overheated or unattended cooking system is also featured.

Abstract: A commercial device and method for cooking food product in cooking oil includes a fry vat containing an amount of cooking oil used to cook discrete batches of uncooked food in discrete batches of a weight relative to the amount of cooking oil in the range of from about 0.0375 to about 0.1, with the total amount of food being cooked at any one time relative to the amount of oil in the fry vat being about 0.1 or less. Cooking the food results in an uptake of oil by the food in an amount of from about 5.5% to about 13% by weight of the uncooked food, and an oil turnover ratio of from about 0.0026 to about 0.007 per discrete batch. Replacement oil is periodically added, and a sufficient number of batches are cooked over 60 hours of operation to achieve at least one vat oil turnover.

Abstract: A commercial device and method for cooking food product in cooking oil includes a fry vat containing an amount of cooking oil used to cook discrete batches of uncooked food in discrete batches of a weight relative to the amount of cooking oil in the range of from about 0.0375 to about 0.1, with the total amount of food being cooked at any one time relative to the amount of oil in the fry vat being about 0.1 or less. Cooking the food results in an uptake of oil by the food in an amount of from about 5.5% to about 13% by weight of the uncooked food, and an oil turnover ratio of from about 0.0026 to about 0.007 per discrete batch. Replacement oil is periodically added, and a sufficient number of batches are cooked over 60 hours of operation to achieve at least one vat oil turnover.