Abstract:
Apparatus for pressing and vacuum treating cheese curd to remove residual whey from the curd and form a cheese block. The apparatus has a receptacle (11) for the curd which is used as part of a vacuum chamber and includes a cover (25) for the curd receptacle (11) whereby the curd within the receptacle can be pressed by pressure means (33) while at the same time the curd is deaerated with vacuum by means of vacuum duct (29).
Abstract:
A shelf stable fluid dessert product which has a reversible gel structure at refrigerator temperatures. The dessert product is made by a method wherein a homogeneous, aqueous mixture of a gel-forming gum starch, sweetener agent, and a proteinaceous source is provided. The fat content of the mixture is adjusted. The mixture is homogenized after the addition of any fat source other than cream cheese or cream. The mixture is heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to pasteurize the mixture. The pH of the mixture is adjusted to below about 4.6 and the mixture is cooled to ambient temperature whereby a thixotropic dessert product is provided which is pourable at ambient temperatures and is gelled at refrigerator temperatures. The product is particularly adapted to reset at refrigeration temperature after being subjected to substantial shear, such as by aeration treatment.