Abstract: Disclosed is a nut butter spread composition, having a Casson plastic viscosity value of less than 12 poise comprising from 25% to 55% peanut oil, or other fat component, and from about 40% to about 67% nut solid particles which have been processed to a particle size distribution in which at least 80% have a particle size less than 18 microns, and preferably between about 2 and about 11 microns. The surfaces of the protein and starch bodies of the nut solids are smooth due to a reduction of cytoplastic reticuli surrounding the protein bodies. The particle size distribution is monodispersed, i.e. a curve with a single peak. A process for preparing these particle size peanuts using a roll milling process which can be followed by a separate smearing step is also disclosed. A low fat peanut butter having from 25% to 40% peanut oil is the preferred nut butter.

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 low calorie, low fat peanut butter-like and fruit preserve product that exhibits rich peanut flavor characteristics, texture, and mouth feel approximating conventional peanut butter is made from defatted peanut flour, either unroasted or roasted, that is mixed with from about one to about three times its weight of water, milled either dry or in the presence of water until the maximum particle size of the flour is smaller than about 200 microns, and then cooked at temperatures between about 80 degrees C. and the boiling point until approximating the texture and flavor of conventional peanut butter. The resulting peanut butter-like component is compatible with either conventional preserves made with natural sugars or with low calorie preserves made with artificial non-nutritive sweeteners.

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 method for molding lactitol-containing food inclusive of food additives which comprises heating a mixture of a solid food material and lactitol which contains not less than 30% by weight of lactitol, molding the mixture in a semi-molten state and optionally pulverizing the molded product.

Abstract: A sliceable crystallized honey product and method of making the same are provided. The honey product comprises from 75% to 90% by weight honey and from 10% to 25% by weight finely ground oil-rich nut products. The honey has a solids content of from 75% to 86% by weight of the honey. Preferably, the nut products are chosen from the group comprising peanut meal and peanut flour.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing low-fat roasted nuts. This process comprises pressing raw redskin nuts with a moisture content of 6% or greater to remove about 40% to about 52% of their oil content and then roasting the nuts. The resulting nuts are low in fat yet retain a significant portion of their flavor-imparting substituents.

Abstract: A process for flavoring edible nuts which comprises: roasting the nuts at about 138.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. for about 4 minutes to about 12 minutes; partially cooling the nuts to a temperature of about 56.degree. C. to about 92.degree. C.; applying a volatile flavoring agent to the partially cooled nuts and blending the nuts until the flavor agent is absorbed by the nuts; cooling the nuts to room temperature; and recovering the flavored nuts.

Abstract: Methods of producing coated, roasted nuts with distinctive honey flavor and golden medium brown roasted nut color comprising coating the nuts a single or successive times with nut coater slurry containing spray dried honey powder, adhesive agent, supplemental sweetener and water, and optionally with a nut coater mixture of modified instant starch and baker's special sugar, and roasting, as well as roasted nuts produced by the described method.

Abstract: An oil-bearing nut composition, especially suitable for industrial use, comprises crushed nut pieces in free-flowable, particulate form. The crushed nut pieces have a particle size range of such that from about 15-70% by weight of the total product, based upon total initial weight of nuts, is in the form of particles having a maximum dimension greater than 500 microns, about 12-80% by weight, on a similar basis, is in the form of particles having a maximum dimension less than 150 microns, and there are no particles larger 15 mm. The nut particles retain from 12-85% of the natural nut oil within their microcellular structure. The composition may include an edible stabilizer, which effectively forms a film bounding the crushed nut particles or clusters of them in the composition. Other, flavoring ingredients such as salt and sugar may also be present.

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.

Abstract: A low calorie, low fat peanut butter like product and a method for making the same is disclosed. Unroasted, defatted peanut flour is milled in water to a smooth, free-flowing consistency and then cooked at a temperature of at least 175.degree. F. but below the boiling point of the water/flour mixture. The resulting product has a water content of 45 to 55 percent and a fat content of from 1-25%.

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: This invention relates to a dried nutmeat and starch food product which can optionally contain other food additives such as honey and cheese. This food product is prepared by a method which comprises: (a) Emulsifying starch, nutmeat and water mixture to form a homogeneous emulsion wherein the starch is partially gelatinized, and the nutmeat is comminuted; and then (b) drying the emulsion of (a).

Abstract: An edible composition is provided which is useful for binding solid food ingredients such as nuts, fruit, cereals and the like into flexible, moist bars. The binder composition comprises about 5-10% water, about 15-30% fat, and a mixture of sucrose and partially caramelized non-crystallizing sugar in a weight ratio of about 1:0.8-3.

Abstract: Finely divided almond shell flour is used as an extender in plywood- and laminating-adhesives, alone or in combination with other, different, vegetable shell flours.

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: An edible, lipid based squeezable, flavored savory shelf-stable composition designed to be shelf stored in a deformable plastic bottle, and to be squeezable at room temperature from a narrow opening of such bottle by the use of ordinary hand pressure, said composition having a paste consistency or stand-up similar to that of a cheese dip and containing lipid, emulsifier and bulking agent.

Abstract: A process of preparing an edible mixed ground compressed fruit and nut product comprising: (a) mixing dried fruit and nuts in a receptacle; (b) transporting the fruit and nut mixture from the receptacle into a mixing and grinding device; and (c) transporting the mixed and ground fruit mixture after it has passed through the mixing and grinding device into an extrusion and compression device to thereby form a compressed mixed ground edible fruit and nut product.

Abstract: A process for increasing tree unit shelling efficiency includes a means of temporarily hardening the kernels of unshelled nuts to increase the efficiency of conventional nut hulling and/or shelling means. Quick freezing is used to sufficiently lower the temperature of the kernels of unshelled nuts to freeze the liquid matter contained in the kernels with minimal ice crystal formation. A higher percentage of nut kernels remain intact during hulling and/or shelling. The hulls and/or shells of the nuts remain substantially unaffected by quick freezing.

Abstract: A process is provided for making flavored soluble protein concentrates from peanuts by grinding, pressing, and extracting with a flash steaming step interposed between the pressing and the extracting. The product concentrates display high protein water solubility and excellent storage characteristics.

Abstract: A nut flavor concentrate is prepared by extraction of nut meat (whole peanut, peanut meal, partially defatted peanuts, etc.) with an aqueous glycerol solution followed by removal of water from the extract. The concentrate so prepared is free from certain components normally present in the nut meat which have a deleterious effect on flavor. The concentrate is employed to impart nut flavor to nuts, candies and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for pulverizing or granulating nuts or seeds which comprises mechanically grinding a mixture of nuts or seeds with a cyclodextrin. The invention also provides a stable particulate admixture of cyclodextrin containing nuts or seeds. The admixture is highly stable during storage and provides a versatile product for use in food processing.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing bland protein concentrates from peanuts by grinding, pressing, and extracting substantially at temperatures below about 100.degree. F. The product protein concentrate is storage stable and displays high protein water solubility.

Abstract: This invention is a roasted nut product that is subsequently coated with an aqueous solution containing sucrose, honey, corn syrup, vegetable oil, emulsifiers and certain other ingredients.

Abstract: An almond nut paste for use in a beverage or dessert comprises an intimate mixture consisting essentially of a paste of unskinned, dry-roasted or oil-roasted almond nuts with or without a minor amount of other starch-poor nuts such as hazel nuts, pistachio nuts or macadamia nuts, substantially all of said nuts having a maximum particle size of not more than 105 microns, having more than 80% by weight of particles of a size not more than 25 microns and having more than 95% by weight of particles of a size not more than 46 microns, and two kinds of nonionic surfactants including a hydrophilic surfactant and a lipophilic surfactant, a thickener and a sugar. Methods of manufacturing beverages, sours, desserts, and syrups from the nut paste are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for drying macadamia and other nuts in which the nuts are first subjected to a very high humidity, as between 85% and 100%, and heated to a temperature above normal room temperature, as between 35.degree. C. and 45.degree. C., then subjected to a relatively low humidity, as between 10% and 15%, while maintaining the temperature, and then subjected to a very low humidity, as between 1% and 10%, at about the same or a slightly higher temperature. The process takes several days, only, instead of 10 to 13 weeks taken by the customary process.

Abstract: Edible seeds and nuts having been stored at low preserving temperatures are treated so as to produce a roasted, salted product wherein the salt is strongly held without the use of oil additives. The process utilizes temperature-conditioning storage, a heat treatment which expands surface cells, spray treatment with an unsaturated sodium chloride solution, followed by roasting.

Abstract: A bland and nutritive oilseed food product made from an oil seed having a fat content of at least approximately 10% and a protein content of at least approximately 20% is produced by a process involving the steps of heating a particulate oilseed material with steam to preferably 220.degree. F. and subjecting the particulate oilseed material to lower alcohol vapors. Initially, the oilseed material is placed in a closed vessel and the alcohol is added to the oilseed material in a preferred weight ratio of approximately 9 pounds alcohol to 60 pounds oilseed material along with a small quantity of water. The vessel has agitators that agitate the oilseed material sufficiently to "fluidize" the material within the vessel. Steam is injected into the vessel and when the temperature of the oilseed material preferably reaches 220.degree. F., the steam is stopped and the particulate oilseed material is kept at that temperature in the closed vessel for at least thirty minutes.

Abstract: A method for coating and infusing nut products with honey-sucrose solution for roasting, which method consists essentially of the steps of (1) preparing a solution comprising 50%-70% by weight sucrose, 10%-20% by weight honey and the balance water, (2) heating the solution to no greater than the soft-ball stage, (3) coating shelled nuts with the solution until the nuts become at least partially saturated with the solution, (4) drying the coated nuts at least to where there is no excess solution left to interrupt a subsequent roasting process, and (5) roasting the coated nuts until they have a golden brown transparent glaze.

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: Nuts are coated by first contacting them with an aqueous sugar and carbohydrate adhesive material, followed by treatment with a dry, honey-containing mixture.

Abstract: A peanut flavor composition compatible in aqueous food systems comprises about 40 to 50 wt-% of ground peanuts, about 20 to 25 wt-% of water, about 20 to 25% of an edible polyhydroxy compound, about 14 to 20 wt-% sugar, and an effective flavor enhancing amount of salt.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for preparing low-fat nuts, such as peanuts, wherein the nuts are initially moistened, and then roasted at a temperature and for a time effective to develop a roasted flavor and color and to obtain a uniform moisture content of about 3.5 to 8% prior to pressing them to remove a limited amount of the oil. After the initial roasting, the nuts are preferably blanched. The pressed nuts, from which is removed from about 20 to about 60% of the oil, are hydrated to a moisture content sufficient to cause the nuts to regain approximately their normal shape during a final roasting which fully develops the flavor and color of the nuts.

Abstract: A cocrystallized sugar-nut product and a method for preparing such product are disclosed. A concentrated sugar syrup is prepared through evaporation, and nuts, chopped or finely divided, with or without additional food ingredients, are added to the concentrated syrup with vigorous mechanical agitation or impact beating within a crystallization zone. A cocrystallized sugar-nut product is produced, comprising aggregates of sugar crystals in intimate association with the nuts and any food ingredient. The cocrystallized sugar-nut product is dry, stable, free-flowing and possesses functional food ingredient characteristics, such as fondant quality and extrusion and compaction capabilities. The cocrystallized sugar-nut product, additionally, is capable of being dispersed in water.

Abstract: A highly stable peanut paste for use as an extender to chocolate 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 chocolate.

Abstract: Crop foods such as peanuts, soybeans, peas, and the like, are ground and processed in a rapid, continuous, in-line production system. The food material is converted into a thermally processed slurry rapidly by mixing the ground food with hot water and steam and then quickly cooling the slurry, preferably in a vacuum chamber. The heat treatment stops the activity of enzymes which normally produce undesirable flavors and odors in mixtures of water and ground peanuts and other foods. The rapid cooling treatment prevents damage to protein content and simultaneously strips away any raw peanut flavor that may have developed. The continuous process produces a slurry of peanuts, or the like, without the characteristic raw peanut flavor, and the bland slurry can be further processed by drying to produce a useful food product such as flour, food extender, or the like.

Abstract: A white, defatted, food-grade peanut flour having an unusually high protein solubility and being suitable for human consumption is disclosed. Peanuts are heated, in preparation for blanching, at temperatures of about 220.degree.-250.degree. F., for a period of time sufficient to eliminate the raw peanut taste. The peanuts are blanched, remoisturized without heat, flaked, solvent extracted, filtered, desolventized and ground into flour.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for preparing low-fat nuts, such as peanuts. The resulting products retain more of their natural flavor than products prepared according to prior art procedures. According to the process, the nuts are initially roasted at a temperature and for a time effective to develop a roasted flavor and color prior to pressing them to remove only a limited amount of the oil. After the initial roasting, the nuts are hydrated and equilibrated for a period of time to obtain a uniform moisture content within the range of from about 4 to 8%. The hydrated nuts are then pressed to remove from about 20 to about 55% of the oil and then hydrated to a moisture content sufficient to cause the nuts to regain approximately their normal shape prior to a final roasting to fully develop the flavor and color of the nuts.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for treating skinned peanuts with an edible powder. In the improved process, peanuts including those peanuts which have split into halves are rotated relative to each other while associated with a substantially dry edible powder until the flat faces of half peanuts have an edible powder adhering thereto and two half peanuts become bonded together face to face to form a whole peanut. A tumbler having a drum disposed to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis and having a roughened interior surface is preferably used for rotating the peanuts.

Abstract: A brown coloring matter for foods essentially consisting of fine shea nut meal, preferably that obtained by washing with water, treating with an alcohol solution, heating per se, heating in the presence of an acid or an alkali, heating in the presence of an amino acid and a reducing sugar, or a combination of two or more of these treatments so as to reduce or remove the unpleasant smell and taste thereof, and a method for coloring foods by using the coloring matter.

Abstract: An improved potassium-supplement composition that is more palatable is prepared containing 10 to 50% of one or more potassium-containing mineral salts and a balance of from 25 to 50% by weight of the balance of a carbohydrate-containing foodstuff such as sugar or a non-hydroscopic starch hydrolysate and from 50 to 75% by weight of the balance of a potassium-containing foodstuff, at least half of which is milk solids, such as cocoa, powdered tomato or ground nuts.

Abstract: A method for sorption of solids by the tissues of whole seeds to enhance the available nutritional value of the whole seeds, to provide nutritional requirements for a ruminant feed, to provide new superimposed processes, to make more effective present superimposed processes, to provide innoculation with viable organisms, to provide means to reduce explosion hazzards from grain dust, and other advantages accruing from encapsulation of solids, the method comprising contacting the whole seeds with a synergetic mixture of solid materials and an oleaginous vehicle and maintaining contact until the synergetic mixture has been sorbed by the grain.

Abstract: Flavoring peanuts by impregnating the peanut meat with a selected flavoring material mixed with water just below boiling and in which the peanut is permitted to soak from 100 to 150 seconds to absorb approximately 10% of the mixture of flavoring material and water and subsequently cooking the flavored nuts.

Abstract: A nut cheese product composed of a blend of ground roasted nuts, texture-modifying fat and dehydrated cheese said product having a water activity below about 0.70 and which is suitable as a spread for snacks and the like and which may be stored for extended periods of time without refrigeration.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of peanut-curd with a roasted taste and flavor, which comprises roasting peanuts, pressing the roasted peanuts to partially remove oil therefrom, pulverizing the pressed peanuts at a temperature at or below -40.degree. C., dissolving the pulverized peanuts in water, boiling the resultant mixture, cooling the mixture and adding a coagulant to the mixture to solidify the mixture to obtain peanut-curd.

Abstract: There is disclosed a honey coated roasted nut product which is prepared by first coating raw nuts with a mixture of honey and water. The honey coated nuts are then enrobed with a dry mixture of sugar and starch and the nuts are then roasted. After cooling, the nuts may be salted.

Abstract: Processed cheese is prepared containing nutmeats such as walnuts which have been contacted with demineralized water for a period of time sufficient to remove tannins from the nutmeats. The removal of tannins from the nutmeats with demineralized water prevents local discoloration in the processed cheese caused by the reaction of tannins with cations of heavy metals such as iron to form insoluble tannates.

Abstract: Peanut butter color and flavor are adjusted by the addition of finely ground peanut skins dispersed in an edible oil. The emulsion of peanut skins in oil may be used to color other food products.

Abstract: In abstract, a preferred embodiment of this invention is an improved roasted type peanut product and the process by which it is produced. The process includes precooking the peanuts in boiling water with a color additive ingredient, removing the peanuts and placing them in hot vegetable oil for a predetermined period of time, removing the same, coating with a light film of oil and salting the same. The product has a longer shelf life and is of a much more palatable taste than what would ordinarily be expected.