Abstract: Processed oats having a remarkably decreased viscosity when dispersed in hot water or boiling water, a method of preparing the same, and a food and beverage containing the same are disclosed. The processed oats may be prepared by contacting pressed oats with water or an aqueous protein solution and then drying the oats. The contacting of oats with the aqueous protein solution may be carried out before the pressing of the oats.

Abstract: A dehydrated vegetable product is obtained by:(a) flash blanching a vegetable in about 100% saturated steam;(b) steam cooking the vegetable in 35 to 65% saturated steam; and(c) cooking the vegetable by exposure to infra-red radiation for from 1.5 to 6.0 minutes.This dehydrated vegetable product is particularly useful as a binder in complex moulded products and as a filling or topping component.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process for making a mixture of homogeneous texturizing or flavoring particles that include fiber and protein from a mixture of heterogeneous particles. The process includes providing a mixture of heterogeneous particles that comprises particles of a cereal grain having a flavor and a fiber concentration. The process also includes moistening the particles to form a dough-like mixture, extruding the mixture and cutting the extruded mixture to form homogeneous texturizing and flavoring particles. The present invention also relates to an edible flake that includes a cereal grain. The edible flake includes an imparted flavor and a fiber concentration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for making a soluble espresso coffee powder with improved in-cup foam comprising the steps of:(1) foaming the coffee extract by gas injection;(2) homogenizing the foamed extract of step(l) to reduce gas bubble size to five microns or less; and(3) spray drying the homogenized extract of step (2) under drier outlet temperature and spray pressure conditions effective to produce a soluble espresso coffee powder wherein a majority of void space in the soluble espresso powder is comprised of gas bubbles having a size of 10 microns or less.The resulting soluble espresso coffee powder, upon reconstitution with hot water, produces a foam which simulates the foam formed on espresso made from roasted and ground espresso coffee.

Abstract: An edible material containing soybean cell walls having a good taste is produced by providing dehulled and hypocotyl-removed soybeans without substantial swelling by water absorption; soaking and heating the soybeans in hot water to which an alkali has been added under the conditions of: Log(Hr)+0.0333 Temp.gtoreq.2.4, wherein Log(Hr) represents the common logarithm (to base ten) value of a soaking time (hours), and Temp represents a soaking temperature (.degree.C.); and then crushing the soybeans.

Abstract: Vegetables or macerated vegetables were washed with water passed through ion-exchange resins capable of removing NO.sub.3 - and NO.sub.2 -ions to remove nitrate nitrogen harmful to human body, then pulverized by freeze-drying. Then, powdered vegetable juice is obtained by adding components effective for healthy life thereto.

Abstract: A combined spray and rotary drying apparatus includes a spray dryer having a housing defining a spray drying chamber, an annular inlet and an outlet. A burner and atomizer sprayer are provided in the spray drying chamber. The outlet of the spray drying chamber feeds into a rotary drying drum. A raw material feed chute is also provided for feeding raw material of relatively low moisture content directly to the rotary dryer. Methods of drying a raw material and of processing raw animal parts are also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject of this invention is a method for producing a product with an enriched content of soluble dietary fiber, such as .beta.-glucan and/or pentosans from a raw material deriving from cereal grains, by using thermal, enzymatic or osmotic treatments or combinations of these. As a first step, suspending of milled cereal or a fraction of cereal in water and when needed, a limited proteolysis is performed in order to improve the solubility of the fiber. Temperature of the mixture is elevated, and the soluble fiber is precipitated with a polar organic solvent on solid carrier particles, which can derive from the raw material or are added in the suspension. A fine fraction, consisting primarily of starch, is separated from the more coarse fraction containing the precipitated fiber, by using methods based on the particle size or density.

Abstract: A method of processing rice to provide a quick-cooking rice includes the steps of fluidizing the rice by recirculation of a gaseous fluid of saturated steam at 100.degree. C. during a first and major part of a cooking time period; injecting saturated make-up steam at 100.degree. C. into the recirculating gaseous fluid in order to compensate condensated steam; spraying water of a temperature close to 100.degree. C. upon the fluidized rice at most during the first and major part of the cooking time period and in an amount calculated for gelatinizing all starch of the fluidized rice; and drying the rice mainly in fluidized state in a successive second zone by dry air.

Abstract: A method of making bacon bits from raw bellies. The raw bellies are sized to a first size. Then, the sized bellies are mixed with water and curing ingredients to form a product mixture. The mixture is heated to above 120.degree. F. wherein protein within the product mixture is substantially denatured. The product is then mixed further and then heated to at least 180.degree. F. Finishing processing takes the product mixture to a water activity level of 0.85 or less. In one embodiment, encapsulated salt is added with the curing ingredients. In another embodiment regular salt is added after the protein has been denatured. In both embodiments, the salt does not reach the protein within the bacon until the protein has been denatured.

Abstract: A dried crisp cheese piece is disclosed in a first preferred form including a nonmelting cheese dried to its final moisture content by microwave energy. The nonmelting cheese generally includes a pH of greater than about 5.7. The final moisture content of the dried cheese piece is preferably between 2 and 8% by weight. The final dried cheese piece is unpuffed and requires no refrigeration. A process for making the dried cheese piece is also disclosed. The process essentially includes subjecting the nonmelting cheese having particular thickness dimensions to microwave energy to reduce the cheese piece from an initial moisture content to a final moisture content ranging from about 2% to 8%. The drying step can be practiced using forming pans to obtain finished products having various three dimensional shapes and configurations.

Abstract: Water is circulated in the processing of food products, such as rice, and in quantities sufficient to avoid undesirable clumping within processing machinery. Further, recycled water produced during the processing of food products is recirculated and reabsorbed by the food products. A portion of the water which contains cooked starch is drained off, and the remainder is recirculated in the processing of additional food products. In one application, a method and apparatus for recirculating water in the processing of rice is provided, whereby the ratio of the amount of water used and/or excreted in the processing of the rice as compared to the amount of cooked rice is less than or equal to about 3:1 by volume.

Abstract: A food supplement comprising a mineral complex obtained from coral by soaking it in a solution of organic acid suitable for ingestion such as citric acid or acetic acid and by extracting minerals from the coral by the action of said organic acid.

Abstract: A method for the heat processing of foodstuff to improve the palatability thereof. A oven housing defines an oven chamber having a material inlet and a material outlet. A tubular structure extends between the material inlet and the material outlet for carrying the foodstuff during the cooking process. The tubular structure is preferably comprised as a bank of interconnected augers. Control of the speed of the auger assembly determines the duration during which the foodstuff is subject to the heat processing. A fluid conduit system provides heated gases to the oven housing for purposes of heat processing or cooking the foodstuff. A blower is connected to the fluid conduit for moving the gases. A heater module provides heated gases to the fluid conduit and controls the temperature thereof. A moisture conditioning apparatus can be used to control the moisture content of the incoming foodstuff thereby controlling all of the process variables for the heat processing of foodstuff.

Abstract: A Eucalyptus tea which is prepared by steaming, rumple-twisting and drying Eucalyptus material, especially leaves, contains a large amount of soluble polysaccharides and tannins, and further richly contains inorganic components such as potassium, sodium and calcium. Also, a process is provided for producing Eucalyptus tea made from stem, leaf and/or bark portions, especially leaves, of the Eucalyptus.

Abstract: A short-time low-pollution method for preparing masa flour is provided wherein whole grain is first partially cooked in a hot alkaline treating solution to achieve at least about 15% gelatinization and loosening of the bran fraction of the grain. The partially cooked grain is then debranned and is subjected to a flash dehydration for quickly subdividing and reducing the moisture content of the grain. The dehydrated grain is then milled to create an acceptable masa flour.

Abstract: A process for continuously drying and stabilizing pasta and the like in which the product to be treated is subjected to a succession of cycles each including of an intense drying stage and a stabilizing stage for cooling in which the air temperature exceeds the dew point, characterized in that during the stabilizing phase the pasta is ventilated, whereby the ventilated air is indirectly heated or cooled by a conditioning fluid to create and maintain in the chamber the temperature and humidity required to the particular stabilization treatment.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a process as well as an apparatus for the production of elongated pasta products, particularly lasagna, wherein the pasta products are formed via a pasta production apparatus in parallel lines, positioned on drying rods, dried and upon solidification, cut into packaging lengths and packed for consumer use. After cutting, the lasagna are moved, in series, via slides, and stacked in portions, of predeterminable numbers, at a conveyor. The conveyor preferably takes the form of a ring-type conveyor for the serial packaging of these portions, whereby inspections, additions and exact weight determination of these portions can be accomplished.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a dry lime pre-cooked corn grain, stable for storage at room temperature involving (a) mixing corn and water in a pressurized container at a temperature of 15.degree. to 35.degree. to form a corn-water mixture; (b) adding an aqueous lime solution to the corn-water mixture to form a corn-water-lime mixture having a pH of 11 to 122 (c) heating, by adding steam, the corn-water-lime mixture at a rate of 1.5.degree. to 6.degree. C. per minute until a lime cooking temperature of the corn-water-lime mixture is reached; (d) lime cooking the corn-water-lime mixture at a lime cooking temperature of at least 85.degree. to no more than 100.degree. C. for 5 to 20 minutes to form lime pre-cooked corn and depressuring the container over a period of 4 to 10 minutes; and (i) drying the lime pre-cooked corn wherein the temperature of the lime pre-cooked corn is less than or equal to 70.degree. C.

Abstract: A water-dispersible complex comprising from 50 to 98% fine cellulose particles and from 2 to 50% water-soluble gum and/or hydrophilic material, as solid component ratio by weight. An aqueous dispersion of this complex includes particles having a particle size of at least 10 .mu.m, in a particle size distribution of not more than 40%. The aspect ratio in terms of the particles having a particle size of at least 10 .mu.m is not higher than 3.0 when the ratio of the particles having a particle size of at least 10 .mu.m in the particle size distribution is from 5 to 40%, and has the colloid fraction of at least 65%.

Abstract: A bakery ingredient including a milled, starch-bearing grain having about 60-80% of its starch enzymatically eliminated by conversion to a soluble form and about 4 to 30% by weight of a caramel-sugar mixture is disclosed along with a process for preparation of the bakery ingredient. The preferred sugar mixture includes at least 70% maltose and less than 5% glucose. The preferred enzyme is an alpha-amylase. Baked goods prepared from the bakery ingredient demonstrate superior crumb strength and are suprisingly resistant to degradation by excessive or insufficient moisture and are characterized by extended shelf-life capability.

Abstract: Garlic, onion or like bulb vegetables are whisked in an appropriate quantity of water to obtain an intermediate product having the consistency of a very fluid cream which is subsequently subjected to freeze drying. The product obtained, ground to a powder, subsequently reconstituted with pre-selected comestible liquids, has been found to possess the properties of the starting bulbs but did not have the offensive day-after effect.

Abstract: A method for dehydrating vegetive matter including the steps of heating a liquid medium to a predetermined temperature; applying negative pressure to the liquid medium; and placing the matter to be dehydrated in the liquid medium to cause dehydration thereof. An apparatus for dehydrating matter having a vessel having an internal vacuum chamber adapted to receive a liquid medium; a system for applying a negative pressure to said liquid medium; a system for heating the liquid medium; and an assembly for placing matter to be dehydrated in the liquid medium to cause dehydration thereof.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing flavors from the spent mash of a fermentation mixture is provided wherein the spent mash of the fermentation mixture after distillation is separated into two constituent portions, the thin stillage and the wet distillers' grains. The thin stillage portion is then combined with a base to adjust pH thereof to between about 7 and about 11. The pH-adjusted thin stillage portion is then cooked at a temperature between about 130.degree. F. and about 210.degree. F. for a period of about 4 to about 14 hours. The cooked solution is concentrated in an evaporator until about 30% wt. solids level is obtained. The product is then dried to about 5-about 10% wt. moisture content. The product obtained has different flavors, depending on the base added and the pH of the cooking step. If the base is sodium hydroxide, the product has a bland, sweet or yeasty flavor if the pH is 8.5, maple or caramel flavor if the pH is 9.5, and a cracker or nutty flavor if the pH is 10.5.

Abstract: Parboiled rice having the beneficial properties of parboiled rice, such as intact grain structure and texture, and having improved color vis-a-vis a typical parboiled rice, and further in the case of a brown rice starting material being substantially without the characteristic parboiled flavor and color, and methods of making same.

Abstract: A flavor enhanced dehydrated meat is prepared by first heating a mixture of a reducing sugar and a sulfur-containing substance to partly react the sugar and sulfur-containing substance, and then the partly reacted mixture is added to a cooked meat which then is heated to react the sugar and sulfur-containing substance further and to dry the meat containing the reacted mixture. The reducing sugar and substance may be added to and reacted in a concentrated juice obtained from cooking meat.

Abstract: Instant grits, which closely resembles natural grits in mouth feel, flavor and consistency, are prepared by cooking a gum-free aqueous grits slurry under controlled conditions for a limited period of time and drying the slurry rapidly prior to breaking up the obtained dried product and packaging it.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for making pet chews. According to the invention, ligaments from cattle and other hoofstocks are rendered substantially free of fat and then dried until the de-fatted ligaments are hardened and suitable for use as pet chews. According to the invention, the ligaments are rendered substantially free of fat in one of two ways: (1) either by washing the ligaments in an aqueous degreasing solution comprised of water, strong alkali (e.g., sodium or potassium hydroxide) and cleaning agents or (2) by roasting the ligaments until they are rendered substantially free of adherent fat. With the aqueous degreasing method, the washed ligaments are roasted until they assume a pleasing color. Following roasting, the ligaments may be further dried until they are hard and "bone like", and suitable for pets to chew on.

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 treating Artemia brine shrimp cysts, which are deemed unhatchable, by the following steps: rehydrating the cysts in clear water until they are approximately double their weight; mechanically rupturing the rehydrated cysts without destroying the internal embryo content of the cysts; centrifuging the resulting slurry to extract the content of the cysts from fragmented casings; and processing the slurry to stabilize the contained nutritional values thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are disclosed for expanding raw, wholeseed amaranth and extruded half products of cereal grains. Amaranth (for example), after tempering to a predetermined moisture content, is fed at a steady rate to a cylindrical popping drum having perforations sufficiently small to contain both raw and expanded amaranth. Popping is accomplished with air heated to a temperature of from 450 to 500 degrees F., forced into the popping drum from below to provide a fluid bed for supporting the amaranth. An auger in the popping container is rotated to move the amaranth through the container as it is being popped, further agitating the amaranth. Following expansion, the expanded amaranth is separated from unexpanded amaranth and other unwanted matter, either in a perforated, revolving separating drum, or on an inclined, vibrating screen.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is described which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a compound of the formula (1): ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein X is CH.sub.2 or S, in an amount sufficient to stimulate selectively histamine H.sub.3 -receptors.

Abstract: A process of producing a high-stability parboiled rice product which is not quickly rehydrated, but which is highly resistant to breakdown during long periods of steamtable exposure. The parboiling process comprises a hot water soak followed by steaming to effectuate substantially complete gelatinization. The rice is then pre-dried at an elevated temperature and tempered for an extended period of four to six hours. Plural stages following tempering reduces stress and thus enhances kernel integrity.

Abstract: Continuous hydrolyzing of keratinaceous material is effected in an elongated hydrolyzing vessel (1) under suitable pressure and temperature which is established by direct steam injection through injection valves, whereby the product mass is heated, fluidized and agitated at one and the same time.An inlet chute (2), which is closed in a pressure-proof manner, leads the material in batches and at intervals into the vessel (1), and an outlet chute (3) at intervals leads the hydrolyzed material to an economizer (4) and further to a pressure-free removal vessel (10).The product mass in the hydrolyzing vessel (1) moves through the vessel as plunger flow established by the overpressure in the inlet chute (2).

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for humidifying rice grains. Rice grains immediately after polishing and, hence, still maintained at an elevated temperature are supplied with water. The rice grains are further humidified under application of a pressure. This two-staged humidification remarkably shortens the time required for the humidification of rice grains after polishing.

Abstract: The invention comprises a dough preform which when fried, produces a snack chip product having a predetermined level of surface bubbling. The dough preform has outer dough portions having substantially less moisture than inner dough portion. The dough preform is made by a process that includes sheeting a dough having from about 30% to about 55% moisture, removing a portion of the moisture from the dough sheet, at a greater rate from the outer dough portions than from the inner dough portion and then frying the partially dried dough prior to any significant equilibration of moisture between the outer and inner dough portions. The moisture can be removed from the dough sheet or preform by heat, air movement or a combination of the two.

Abstract: The invention is a method for treating coffee beans to make a better-tasting and improved aroma coffee. Green coffee beans are first partially roasted to a Hunter a-color between about 3 and about 9, under roasting conditions sufficient to increase the Hunter a-color of the beans by at least about 1.5 a-color units during the partial roasting step. The partially roasted beans are then treated with either an alkaline solution comprising water and a foodgrade base, or a coffee bean extract solution comprising water and from about 1% to about 12% coffee solids. Preferably, the partially roasted beans are treated by soaking them in the solution at a temperature between about 65.degree. F. (18.degree. C.) and about 120.degree. F. (49.degree. C.) for a time between about 2 hours and about 24 hours.

Abstract: A method for making a beverage clouding agent entails acid hydrolysis of a starch without the use of agitation during hydrolysis followed by a step of lowering the temperature of the hydrolysate to between 45.degree. C. to 60.degree. C. coupled with increasing the solids level of the slurry containing the hydrolysate to between 30.degree. to 45.degree. Be. If the slurry containing the hydrolysate is spray dried to obtain the hydrolysate, then the slurry should be preheated prior to spray drying to not more than 90.degree. C. The clouding agent produced is a starch hydrolysate which in an about 0.1% aqueous solution has a spectrophotometric reading below 70%T when measured at 25.degree. C. through a 1 cm cell at 600 nm.

Abstract: Foodstuffs which have been frozen are partially dehydrated in a gaseous medium having a dry bulb temperature higher than about 200.degree. F. and a wet bulb temperature higher than about 120.degree. F. prior to finish drying at a dry bulb temperature of less than about 180.degree. F. to a storage stable moisture content of less than 12% by total weight. Dehydrated products ranging in size from 1/16" thick slices to 3/4" dice produced by this dehydration process reconstitute in less than about 15 minutes with an amount of water equivalent to at least 85% of the previously removed moisture.

Abstract: Disclosed are snack products comprising a dried agglomeration of fruit or vegetable pieces as well as a method for making these snack products. This method involves utilizing a sugar soaking step to prevent the collapse and shrinkage of the individual pieces of fruit or vegetable during the drying process. The method further comprises mixing the pieces of fruit or vegetable with a foam composition prior to drying. This results in distribution of the pieces within the snack in an open mat structure so that the snack product is characterized by a ratio of solids volume to total volume of from about 0.5 to about 0.85. The final snack product has a low water activity and bulk density and provides a crisp, tender eating quality.

Abstract: Chews for pets are made from sinews or tendons of cattle and other livestock by the method of cooking the tendons and sinews, followed by the removal of meat and fat, and then baking at a temperature of at least 200.degree. C. until they are completely or substantially completely hardened.

Abstract: The invention is a continuous process and a product of the process for preparing a low fat content chip-like baked snack food from a composition containing at least one ingredient having starch. Water and the ingredient having starch comprise substantially all of the ingredients of the composition. The method involves mixing and heating the composition in a cooker extruder or continuous mixer to form a dough-like consistency. In the most preferred embodiments of the invention the ingredient including starch is either a corn or a potato ingredient. The heating is conducted until the composition obtains a temperature of from about 130.degree. F. to about 260.degree. F. The composition is extruded under a pressure drop which substantially avoids expansion of the extrudate to obtain an extrudate having a water content of from about 25% by weight to about 60% by weight. The extrudate is sheeted, while hot.

Abstract: A peanut food having the texture of a parched peanut and the taste of a boiled nut is produced by sequentially soaking the peanut in shell in water, boiling the peanut along with an amount of coconut, and microwaving the peanut. Upon cooling, the peanut hardens, yet retains the taste produced in boiling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for separating mycotoxin-contaminated grains, kernels, seeds and nuts, from uncontaminated whole grain seeds, whole or split kernel nuts and seeds to obtain a substantially uncontaminated supply source of these foods. The separate contaminated source can be further processed to lower the mycotoxin contamination. The process involves the separation of the mycotoxin or aflatoxin-containing materials by floating the aflatoxin-contaminated foods in a liquid having a specific gravity of from about 0.9 to about 1.2. A highly preferred process uses dynamic flotation.

Abstract: A method for dehydrating foods by the steps of subdividing the starting food to a suitable size, as by slicing or chopping; blanching the subdivided product in a blanching solution such as brine, acid, sugars; placing the material in a sealed vessel, and while pressurizing the vessel to an elevated pressure of about 1-4 atmospheres above normal, contacting the food pieces with a solution of a sugar adapted to extract moisture therefrom by osmotic action; after sufficient moisture is removed osmotically, rapidly decompressing the vessel to significantly below atmospheric pressure, contacting the decompressed food pieces with a heated liquid oil until the moisture content thereof is not more than about 3% but before the pieces undergo superficial degradation in flavor and color, removing such oil from the pieces to reduce their oil content to about 5-25% by weight, preferably by centrifugation, and cooling the same to room temperature.

Abstract: A product obtained by subjecting an isolated soybean protein and corn starch used as the raw materials to pressing and heating treatments in a twin-screw extruder exhibits its fibrous properties when it is immersed in warm water to dissolve out a part of the corn starch and a little amount of the soybean protein. This product is relatively tough. The corn starch is dissolved out in only a small amount upon the immersion in warm water and, therefore, the yield is high.

Abstract: A method for plasticizing nuts, such as almonds and the like, includes the steps of heating a mass or bulk of nuts in a dry atmosphere to a uniform temperature as they are being conveyed, and moisturizing the nuts to a preselected moisture content as they are being conveyed. The method further includes at least partially or semi-fluidizing the mass of nuts as they are being heated and moisturized. The method also includes heating the moisturized nuts to dry the skins of the nuts. An apparatus for plasticizing nuts, such as almonds and the like, includes a vibrating housing along which the nuts are conveyed in mass from one end to the other end thereof. The housing includes a perforated deck plate over which the mass of nuts move and defining an air chamber below the deck plate. The air chamber is divided into three plenums along the length of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing dried rice, which is capable of allowing the cooking time to be reduced, and which allows the rice to have an appearance and a texture when cooked as excellent as rice cooked using an electric rice cooker. The method of manufacturing dried rice comprises as steps of: adjusting a water content of polished rice so that it reaches at least 23 wt % after the rice has been washed with water; soaking the rice in a sugar solution so as to allow the sugar to permeate the rice and to remove 6 to 38 wt % of the water contained in the rice; separating the sugar solution adhered to the rice; and drying the rice under conditions in which starch contained therein will not be pregelatinized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a bland tasting full fat soy flour meal or grits (PSM) wherein the soybeans either whole or split are treated with live steam or water under atmospheric pressure at temperatures ranging between 85.degree. to 100.degree. C. for 21/2 to 20 minutes or for an equal or shorter period under steam pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, the combination of time and temperature under steam pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure being such that the degree of blandness in the resultant PSM is about equivalent to the blandness which results in the stated treatment under atmospheric pressure.