Abstract: Methods for frying food including supplying cooking fluid to a fryer apparatus, frying food in the cooking fluid so that used cooking fluid including degradation products including surfactants are produced therein and food residue accumulates in the fryer apparatus, adding the treatment compound capable of selectively reducing the amount of the surfactants directly to the used cooking fluid, and permitting the treatment compound to remain within the fryer apparatus and settle upon the food residue while continuing the food frying process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to edible cores, especially nuts (peanuts, cashews, etc.), having a desirable fruit flavoring. More particularly, the invention relates to edible cores which are prepared by coating with an adhesive solution containing a source of fruit flavoring and then roasting, to provide a snack having desired roasted taste and appearance and a fruit flavoring.

Abstract: Potato pieces, for example, potato slices, french fries, and potato cubes or potato skins are prepared with a lower fat content by frying the potato pieces in an oil comprising from about 0.5 to about 2% of a hydrophobic or a hydrophilic silica. The hydrophilic silicas are preferred for use in the frying fat because they are approved for food use. Alternatively, the potato pieces can be dipped in silica or water or oil containing silica.

Abstract: A snack product and its method of manufacture including obtaining an expanded farinaceous material initially containing up to 20% by weight moisture, battering and breading the material, and then baking and frying it.

Abstract: A set of holes are drilled into a potato in preparation for cooking to provide a multi-holed potato and potato twirls. Apparatus for forming the multi-holed potato has a gang of parallel drills mounted for rotary and reciprocal movement through holes in a pair of plates spaced apart a distance to support the potato therebetween.

Abstract: A method for operating a plural number of batch type reduced-pressure fryer units, the method including: connecting the fryer units, through a switch means, with vacuum pump lines including an initial vacuum pump line serving to reduce the frying bath pressure of a selected one of the fryer units in the stage of an initial frying treatment and a finish vacuum pump line serving to maintaining the frying baths of a plural number of the frying units simultaneously in reduced pressure condition in the stage of a finish frying treatment; while holding the respective vacuum pump lines in operation, switching the vacuum pump lines to connect the initial vacuum pump line with a selected fryer unit to reduce the pressure of the frying bath thereof for the initial frying treatment; switching the vacuum pump line to connect the selected fryer unit with the finish vacuum pump line for the finish frying treatment upon completion of the initial frying treatment; switching the vacuum pump lines to disconnect the selected fr

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cooking and indicating the doneness of food products immersed in a hot liquid cooking medium such as deep hot fat. An indicator circuit that cooperates with an acoustic detector produces a first control signal indicating that acoustic activity in the cooking medium has fallen to below a threshold level for a predetermined first period of time, and afterwards produces a second control signal correlated to the doneness of the cooked food product a predetermined second period of time following said predetermined first period of time.

Abstract: Fatty alcohol succinic acid esters of the formula:RCH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH(COOR')CH.sub.2 (COOR")wherein R is a linear alkyl group of from 5 to 15 carbon atoms, R' and R" can be the same or different and are linear saturated, monounsaturated or diunsaturated alkyl groups of from 12 to 20 carbon atoms. These fatty alcohol esters can be prepared by reacting succinic anhydrides with long chain fatty alcohols, and have a low calorie value. The compounds are suitable for use in cooking oil compositions for the commercial production of reduced-calorie fried snack foods.

Abstract: A process for preparing low fat shaped snack products having a light, crispy, crunchy texture is disclosed. A dough is formed from 50% to 80% flour, preferably potato flour, and water (20% to 50%), and formed into a sheet from which snack pieces are cut or are extruded. The snack pieces are constrained in a mold, fried to a moisture content of from about 5% to about 15% and then the excess fat removed by stripping with superheated steam having an average steam velocity of at least 800 lb./hr./ft..sup.2. A snack having 12% to 25% fat and having a fried-like texture and flavor and a moisture content less than 6% is made by this process.

Abstract: Cooking process and apparatus is provided for cooking food products in a continuous manner whereby the moisture formed during the process of cooking is removed from the cooking oil and the time-temperature profile within the cooker along the cooking path may be adapted to substantially conform to a linear or nonlinear curve. The apparatus provides a novel process for cooking specialty snack foods having harder bite and/or lowered oil content.

Abstract: A dehydrated meat is obtained by cooking meat in animal fat under atmospheric pressure to a dry matter content of at least 60% by weight, predrying the cooked meat, granulating the predried meat and then dehydrating the granulated meat.

Abstract: A deep fat frying system has heating elements controlled by triacs operated in the zero switching mode by a programmed digital processor. The triacs are switched, and thus power is delivered to the heating elements, at a rate substantially faster than the thermal cycle of the heating elements to create a constant or uniform temperature on the surface of the heating elements, which avoids temperature fluctuations, particularly excessive peak temperatures, in the heating elements that scorch fat in contact with the elements and that cause temperatures of the fat to overshoot a desired cooking set point temperature.

Abstract: Cooking process is provided for cooking food products in a continuous manner whereby the moisture formed during the process of cooking is removed from the cooking oil and the time-temperature profile within the cooker along the cooking path may be adapted to substantially conform to a linear or non-linear curve. The apparatus provides a novel process the cooking process results in specialty snack foods having harder bite and/or lowered oil content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making a shaped cereal grain product that has a surface crust and an appearance of fully cooked but intact grains and/or pieces of grains joined together. In the process of the present invention a plurality of cereal grains having different cooking times under the same cooking conditions are selected or modified so that each cereal grain has a predetermined cooking time under the cooking conditions used in the process. These grains are cooked in hot water and/or steam until they are fully cooked and have developed sticky surfaces as a result of re-absorbing the cereal starches and/or gums leached out into the cooking water. The grains are added to the cooking water and/or steam in a sequence and at times dictated by their respective cooking times so that they all become fully cooked at approximately the same time. The grains are then cooled to a temperature lower than about 180.degree. F. in a manner such that the grain surfaces remain sticky.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooking foods such as donuts and pastries in hot oil with new steps and structure being provided to minimize airborne cooking oil and aeromatic odors. The method includes steps of directing an air sheet across the top of the cooking machines, collecting the air sheet and filtering oil several times to remove oil and odors, the collected air flow is split and a minority is recirculated as the air sheet and a majority is exhausted downward upon the floor. The apparatus is self-contained and has the cooking machine atop of a cabinet with the ventilation and filter system being inside the cabinet. There are first, second, third and fourth filters that remove the oil first and the odors lastly. A single air blower collects the air and oil and odors, causes flow through the filters, recirculates a minority portion of the air back to the machine, and exhausts a majority of the air to ambient.

Abstract: A process for making a shelf-stable food product comprises blending a high moisture material that provides flavor and substantially all of the moisture to the stack food product with one or more low moisture farinaceous base ingredients to produce a dough, extruding the dough into the desired shape, drying the extruded dough and ultimately cooking the dried product to produce a shelf-stable food product. The high moisture material can comprise a cellular fruit or vegetable material which has been vigorously macerated, a liquid per se, such as a beverage, or a dairy product such as yogurt.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of bacon having improved taste and aesthetic appearance which is suitable for heating in a microwave comprising the steps of:providing slices of uncooked bacon;placing said slices of uncooked bacon between a pair of screen members;conveying said uncooked bacon between said screen members into a bath of hot cooking oil containing bacon grease;maintaining said bacon in said bath for a period of time sufficient to cook said bacon to the desired degree of crispness;conveying the cooked bacon from said bath,removing said bacon from between said screen members; and theheating said bacon in a microwave oven.

Abstract: A set of holes are bored into a potato in preparation for cooking to provide a multi-holed potato and potato twirls. Apparatus for forming the multi-holed potato has a gang of parallel drills mounted for rotary and reciprocal movement through holes in a pair of plates spaced apart a distance to support the potato therebetween.

Abstract: A method is described for reducing the amount of oil absorbed into a food during hot oil frying. The method involves coating the food, prior to deep fat frying with a protein latex which forms a layer of hydrophobic protein having excellent barrier properties to hot oil.

Abstract: A food chip cooking process in which uncooked food slices are propelled airborne over the cooking vat in a batch, are stirred and submerged to urge the batch from one end of the vat to the other and then removed from the vat for further processing.

Abstract: A process to control and regulate the temperature of a cooking medium in a deep fat fryer having a receptacle used for batch frying of food. The process includes inputting a desired set cooking temperature through use of a keyboard connected to a microprocessor. The actual temperature of the cooking medium within the receptacle is sensed. The actual temperature is compared to a referenced temperature and the rate of change of the actual temperature is calculated. The temperature readings are translated from analog to digital readings. A proportioning temperature band having a top and bottom temperature is established. Proportional, periodic power is delivered to a heating element in the receptacle if the actual temperature is within the proportioning temperature band. The rate of change of the actual temperature is multiplied by a constant and the resultant figure is added to the actual temperature.

Abstract: Potato pieces, for example, potato slices, french fries, and potato cubes or potato skins are prepared with a lower fat content by frying the potato pieces in an oil comprising from about 0.5 to about 2% of a hydrophobic silica. Alternatively, the potato pieces can be dipped in silica or water or oil containing silica.

Abstract: A process for cooking, in a cooking fluid, food products which lose a portion of their moisture content as vapor during the cooking cycle is provided. The food products are spaced and oriented so that during cooking, water vapor is expelled from the food products into the vertical convection channels formed by the spacing and orienting of the food products. The expelled buoyant water vapor augments the upward vertical convection of the cooking fluid through the vertical convection channels, thereby improving heat transfer from the cooking fluid to the food products. As a result, cooking time and fat uptake is reduced and a more uniform product quality is provided.

Abstract: The invention is a packet for the cleansing of edible oils, and a method of using that packet. The packet comprises a sealed enclosure formed of a porous or perforated, polymeric material. The ground rind from a fruit, such as granulated grapefruit peelings, are inserted into that enclosure. The method comprises immersion of the porous or perforated, fruit peeling-containing polymeric packet into the edible oil. The porous or perforated packet is retained in the edible oil for at least five minutes. During the time that the packet is immersed, the edible oil can flow through the porous or perforated polymeric packet and contact the citrus peelings within that packet. At the end of the appropriate time period, the porous or perforated polymeric packet is removed from the edible oil.

Abstract: Cooking apparatus characterized in that it comprises reservoir means (66) for cooking fluid, cooking fluid spray means (76), means (78, 80, 82) for transferring cooking fluid from said reservoir means (66) to said spray means (76) wherein said spray means (76) is positioned such that food to be cooked is contacted by cooking fluid sprayed from said spray means (76). The food to be cooked may be held on tray means (144), in container means (140) in an annular space (214) defined by concentric wall means (184) or may be fed to the apparatus along conveyor means (14).

Abstract: The present application discloses processes for making novel foodstuffs from ingredients comprising potato materials and protein. The novel foodstuffs produced by these processes are rapidly heated from a frozen state to a serving temperature in conventional heating equipment. The novel foodstuffs produced comprise a new french fry type foodstuff and a seafood analog.Also disclosed is a process to improve the formation of fiber from vegetable protein.

Abstract: Nuts (peanuts, cashews, etc.) having desirable eye appeal, excellent taste and good storage stability are prepared by coating raw nuts with an adhesive solution containing honey, followed by a coating of powdered sugar, roasting the coated nuts, preferably in oil, and then applying a coating of a dry mixture of sugar and salt. The adhesive solution employed in the initial coating step preferably comprises a mixture of honey, corn syrup, sucrose, carbohydrate gum and water. The final coating is tightly adherent after roasting.A method of operating the process on a continuous basis is also described.

Abstract: A process for preparing frozen coated potato products is disclosed. Raw potatoes are washed, cut blanched, and partially dehydrated. The cut potatoes are then coated with an aqueous starch slurry. The aqueous starch slurry is comprised of a combination of modified ungelatinized potato starch, modified ungelatinized corn starch, rice flour and other optional ingredients. The coated potato strips are parfried in oil, then frozen. The frozen strips are prepared for consumption by either finish frying in hot oil, or heating in an oven. The starch coating enhances the holding quality of the ready to consume product. It also improves the acceptability of the finished product by increasing the crispiness of the outer surface, and helping to maintain the tenderness of the interior of the cut potato.

Abstract: A method for improving the flavour characteristics of potato products which are to be fried, which comprises treating the potato product before frying with a flavour mixture consisting essentially of the product obtained by heating a mixture of a reducing sugar, amino acid and a sulphur donor compound to a temperature between 70.degree. and 180.degree. C.

Abstract: A device for removing free fatty acids from cooking oil is formed by a pair of superposed reservoirs having a screen and filter pad provided partition dividing the reservoirs from each other through which the cooking is forced from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir by air pressure. A powder commingled with the oil prior to the filtering step is trapped with free fatty acids on the filter pad.

Abstract: A flavored imitation meat protein material having a fibrous structure is produced by cooking an aqueous mixture of a protein raw material, a flavor material and optionally egg white with a twin-screw extruder and extruding through a die with the expansion of the extruded material. A fried product obtained from the flavored imitation meat protein material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A food product comprising a prepared mixture of shredded potato and shredded cheese can be used as a substitute for the bread dough base in pizza. The product can be used immediately, or can be frozen for later baking as is typical of pizza bases.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus which can manufacture dried foods giving the person who eats the dried foods a soft-dried and spongy feeling pleasant to the palate by evaporating the greater part of the moisture in the raw materials to be removed in as short a time as possible after the commencement of the drying process. According to the present invention, this is achieved by a method for manufacturing dried foods wherein raw food materials are radiated with microwaves under reduced pressure conditions while immersed in oil as well as by an apparatus for manufacturing dried foods comprising an oil tank arranged within a pressure reducing chamber having a pressure reducing device; a retainer for containing raw food materials immersed in oil in said oil tank; and a microwave radiating device for radiating said raw food materials with microwave while immersed in the oil.

Abstract: A cooking composition for use in a microwave oven is provided comprised of from about 30 to 95 percent by weight of a frying oil or fat, from about 1.3 to 30 percent by weight of a water or oil-soluble food gum, and from about 0.05 to 2.5 percent by weight of an emulsifier. A method for use of the noted composition is also provided whereby the composition may be used to fry foods in a microwave oven.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a process and apparatus for removing contaminates from edible cooking oil is provided. A continuous stream of cooking oil at an elevated temperature is withdrawn from a cooking bath. A continuous stream of liquid solvent for at least a portion of the contaminates is mixed with the oil. The solvent has a specific gravity different than the specific gravity of the oil. As the oil and solvent streams are mixed, at least a portion of the contaminates are transferred from the oil to the solvent. The oil and solvent mixture is then separated by specific gravity into a stream comprising cleaned oil and a stream comprising solvent and contaminates. The cleaned oil stream is than returned to the bath, preferably being heated in a heat exchanger prior to introduction in the bath.

Abstract: A process for preparing improved french fried potatoes for subsequent reheating in a microwave oven is disclosed in which the potato strips are dust-coated with a thin layer of toasted potato granules and fat-encapsulated salt after frying in oil. In a preferred embodiment, potato strips are finish fried to a fully cooked, ready-to-eat condition and thereafter coated with a thin layer of toasted potato granules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flavorful partially-defatted nuts and a process of preparing them by infusing partially-defatted nuts with an edible oil, preferably containing a flavoring agent and a sweetener. This process makes it possible to produce partially-defatted nuts having both an improved flavor and a low caloric content.

Abstract: A process for producing fully cooked french fried potatoes which, when reheated to a suitable consumption temperature, closely simulate the color, texture, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel and total eating experience of state of the art french fries prepared for serving in fast food restaurants, i.e., by deep fat frying. The process includes parfrying potato strips, cooling or freezing the parfried potato strips, dust coating with potato granules and thereafter finish frying the potato strips to a fully cooked, ready-to-eat condition. The potato strips are then gently frozen without any substantial desiccation. For consumption, the frozen finish fried potato strips are reheated to a suitable temperature for consumption via the use of a conventional or convection oven, heat lamp, or the like.

Abstract: A process for producing a fried food, which comprises placing a starting material suitably applied with a necessary pretreatment into a fryer filled to an intermediate level with heated oil and from which air is evacuated, moving the material vertically to repeat the operation of dipping the material into the oil and withdrawing the material above the oil surface for several minutes, then allowing the material to rest in the oil for a while and finally draining off the oil by vibrating the material with small amplitudes above the oil.

Abstract: Potato chips having a flavor, texture and appearance similar to batch cooked chips and decreased oil content are prepared on a continuous basis by depositing freshly sliced potato slices enveloped in natural starches released during the slicing process in a precooking sluice where they are conveyed in a continuous stream of heated precooking oil which caramelizes the natural starch envelope prior to the precooked slices being deposited in a second continuous stream of cooking oil heated to a higher temperature where the final cooking of the potato chips takes place.

Abstract: A method for reducing the cholesterol content and saturated fat content of red meat and fowl is provided. The processing employs a heated unsaturated oil to solubilize the saturated fat and cholesterol of fragmented meat and then employs an aqueous fluid to separate and remove the extracting oil from the oil processed meat. The invention not only includes methods for such processing, but also provides meat having markedly reduced saturated fat, reduced total fat, and reduced cholesterol content; an aqueous meat flavoring and stock agent; and an oil containing concentrated amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat which may be employed for food in which cholesterol and saturated fat are not a concern or for non-food uses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the preparation of what is commonly known as "fast foods" such as french fried potatoes. The method of the present invention pre-cooks food in a non-fat environment such as a microwave oven. Thereafter, the food is transported by a conveyor system through different cooking stations, at least one of which sprays the pre-cooked food with closely monitored quantities and concentrations of heated oil. The sprayed oil may be mixed with water or air and sprayed under pressure at elevated temperatures. In this manner, the prepared food has the appearance, taste and texture as though it were cooked in the traditional way, but is not saturated with oil as it would be if it were immersed in a heated vat. In other aspects of the invention, the conveyor system may provide an oscillating or lateral movement to the food that it is transporting to uniformly distribute the sprayed oil over the surface of the food, and to shake excess oil from the food.

Abstract: Corrugated snack food pieces are fabricated from a dough directed through a pair of mated corrugated sheeting rolls. The dough is impressed with the corrugated pattern of the sheeting rolls and subsequently cut into individual snack food pieces. The dough is fed directly into the sheeting rolls so that no prior memory is imparted to the dough sheet prior to receiving its corrugated shape. The corrugated sheeting rolls may be scored transverse to the corrugations to provide transverse webs of dough between adjacent corrugations.

Abstract: Starch-based dough suitable for making fried starch-based chip-type snack foods containing non-potato food pieces, preferably vegetable pieces, that retain their physical integrity during vigorous processing and frying conditions and are visible in the finished chip product. Said dough comprises from about 50% to about 75% starch-based component; from about 30% to about 40% water; and from about 0.05% to about 4% coated non-potato food pieces. Said starch-based component is preferably dehydrated potatoes. The coating on said non-potato food pieces is a pregelatinized starch. In the process for making the dough product, pregelatinized starch is coated onto the non-potato food pieces prior to mixing said pieces into the other dough components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooking small quantities of low and normal moisture content foodstuffs in a sealed pressurized container by immersing the foodstuffs in a heated liquid cooking medium and injecting super-saturated steam into the vessel upon the closure of the lid to which super-saturated steam is generated within a heated injection tube and creates an instant pressure seal and initiates a cycle of repeated vacuum pulse cooking flashes of the moisture and water contained in the foodstuffs placed within the vessel to super-saturated steam as the pressure increases and decreases in accordance with the pressure regulating means for at least the timed cooking period.

Abstract: High quality fried food pieces having crispy and chewy crusts with high protein are obtained without the addition of Protein Isolates when all kinds of food pieces are dipped in a batter containing, as essential ingredient, highly swollen particles created by dispersing, in an aqueous liquid at room temperature, protein rich washed Moong Dal ground to particle sizes varying from 100 Microns to 1400 Microns and deep frying. By varying the texture of the ground Moong Dal and varying the batter consistency, batter suitable for coating fish or boneless chicken or for coating beef, pork or chicken with bones can be obtained.

Abstract: A potato chip production line has an improved precooking process and apparatus which includes an elongated sluice having a moving stream of heated precooking liquid of a temperature within a desired range of 200 to 300 degrees F. at an upstream end of the sluice, a conveyor for introducing thin starch-coated potato slices into the stream at the sluice upstream end, paddle wheels rotatably mounted in the sluice at sites spaced along and within the stream for partially damming the stream and the potato slices carried therein at the sites in order to control the stream level and the degree of precooking of the slices, and nozzles connected to the sluice in communication with the stream and disposed adjacent to the respective sites and generally below the paddle wheels.

Abstract: A novel process and apparatus is disclosed for producing potato chip products having less than twenty-five weight percent oil based on the total weight of an unseasoned chip. The process requires parfrying potato slices, dealing and partially dehydrating the slices with superheated steam and then further dehydrating the slices.

Abstract: Potato chips having batch-fried texture and flavor characteristics are produced in a continuous process in a significantly reduced time by conveying potato slices through an initial frying region having a temperature of from about 115.degree. C. to about 155.degree. C. (about 240.degree. F. to about 310.degree. F.) and then through a final frying region having a temperature of from about 165.degree. C. to about 185.degree. C. (about 330.degree. F. to about 365.degree. F.).

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.