Abstract:
The present disclosure provides for a powdered food composition that can be reconstituted into a creamy, yogurt-like, or smoothie-style food having optional inclusions and that delivers the taste, organoleptic characteristics, mouthfeel, and nutritional benefits of conventional ready-to-eat cereal products. In one approach, the food composition or powdered food composition includes a powder component and a non-powder component. The powder component is capable of being quickly reconstituted or hydrated with water or other fluid to a creamy consistency and within a very short amount of time with little to no shear other than hand mixing with a spoon or other utensil.
Abstract:
A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles are composed of, comprise or consist of a material which is magnetic and/or electroconductive; b. heating the particles in the bed to form a cooking medium in the form of a heated bed of particles, wherein in step b the particles are heated at least partially by electromagnetic induction; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated particles transfer heat into the elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.
Abstract:
In the method of the main patent, corn kernels coated with sunflower lecithin and additives are obtained. According to the improvements, the additives and sunflower lecithin can be added in liquid state, solid state or both, and can be mixed and subsequently filtered before reaching a final mixer (2) to which are added not only the additives and sunflower lecithin, in any state, but also the corn kernels (1), in order to coat the corn kernels inside the mixer. The improvements also provide for the substitution of sunflower lecithin by other compounds with which similar results can be obtained, such as fructose syrup, liquid glucose, corn syrup, molasses, inverted sugar syrup or cornstarch, the kernels obtained being able to be coated with more than one coating of a different nature.
Abstract:
Method of manufacturing puffed rice for an instant food product. The method includes subjecting rice that is boiled or steamed to first drying by blowing air, at a temperature of 100 degrees C. or lower, onto the rice until the rice is dried to a moisture content of between 20 mass percent and 30 mass percent. After the first drying, the rice is pressed and flattened. After the pressing and flattening, subjecting the rice to second drying performed by ventilation at a temperature of 100 degrees C. or lower until the rice has a specific gravity of between 0.55 g/mL and 0.7 g/mL. After the second drying, subjecting the rice to puffing and drying at a temperature of between 130 degrees C. and 160 degrees C. by directing an air stream onto the rice, said air stream having an air velocity of between 40 m/s and 92 m/s.
Abstract:
A method for the packaging of popcorn kernels for popping in microwave ovens, in which the method comprises a stage of the dispensing popcorn kernels, a distribution agent, and a flavouring agent into a microwaveble package through an arrangement of independent discharge openings, adapted to supply and dose, respectively, the popcorn kernels, distribution agent, and flavouring agent.
Abstract:
A process for preparing a compressed popcorn (15) food product is provided. Process steps include: cooking (1), cooling (2), fractioning (3), heating (4), compressing (5) and ejection and packing (6). Popcorn (15) is made from maize grains (13) which are then compressed (5) to obtain compressed food product portions. The invention also relates to a manufactured food product (53) comprising compressed popcorn (15) resulting from the maize grains (13) and a sweetener (14) cooked without the addition of fat substances. The resulting food product (53) may also include additional food ingredients. The different shapes of the compression containers (50) make it possible to obtain different types of candies, food bars or blocks, etc.
Abstract:
Systems, methods and machines for producing popcorn and other types or expanded food are disclosed herein. A machine in accordance with one embodiment includes a flow through cooking deck and a plurality of heating elements that extend along the length of the cooking deck. An agitating assembly having a plurality of paddles can be positioned above the cooking deck. A corn hopper can dispense corn kernels onto the cooking deck and the paddles of the agitating assembly can transport and agitate the corn kernels on the cooking deck. The paddles can be positioned at an angle to their direction of travel and can move the corn kernels from side to side as they move the corn kernels along the length of the cooking deck.
Abstract:
A cooking system that utilizes vibration to improve the convenience of preparing food and the quality of the finished product. The system uses a vibrating device coupled to a cooking vessel with a pad and/or isolation blocks disposed between the vibrator and the vessel. The cooking system can be adapted to prepare specific foods in specific quantities, such as popcorn in pre-packaged containers.
Abstract:
A packaged food product comprising a tray (2) containing an edible composition having a layered structure, comprising: —at least one composite layer (24) comprising puffed cereal grains (G) embedded in a matrix of edible material (22); and —at least one edible coating layer (26) deposited on said composite layer (24) and preferably including chocolate. The matrix of edible material (22) has, in a temperature range of between 20° C. and 40° C., and preferably also in the range of from 0° C. to 40° C., a pasty consistency such as to maintain its own shape in unconfined conditions.