Leprino Foods Company

Ann V Durkin

Richard L Barz

Richard Lee Barz

Carolyn Parks Cremer

A process of manufacturing a soft or semi-soft fibrous cheese comprising the steps of a) pasteurizing milk; b) acidifying the milk; c) coagulating the milk to obtain curd and whey; d) cutting the coagulum and draining the whey, thereby leaving a cheese curd; e) heating, kneading, and stretching the curd (e.g., in mixer/cooker 1) until it is a homogeneous, fibrous mass of cheese; f) forming the cheese into a shape (e.g., by pumping it through extruder 8); g) cooling the shaped cheese in cold brine (e.g., in brine tanks 11 and 15); and h) removing the cooled cheese from the brine (e.g., by conveyor 16). A food additive is thoroughly mixed into the heated cheese (for example in additional mixer 6) after the cheese has been heated, kneaded, and stretched, but before it has been formed into a shape. The additive can be a gum, stabilizer, colorant, dairy solid, cheese powder, flavor, non-dairy protein isolate, salt, or food starch.

Process of making a soft or semi-soft fibrous cheese

By adding a minor amount of starch to a natural mozzarella cheese, the baking characteristics of the cheese when used to make a pizza can be altered, making it more suitable for a particular set of baking conditions, e.g., involving time, temperature, type of oven, crust thickness, and the toppings used. For example, the addition of about 0.001 to 0.01 wt. % of a modified high amylose starch allows a pizza with a partially pre-baked crust to be baked at 685.degree. F. in an impingement oven in as little time as 70 seconds, with the cheese being fully melted, evenly browned, and covered with small blisters, as is desired, and the crust being properly baked. Without the addition of the starch, the cheese, although melted, is not brown or blistered by the time the crust is 'done.'

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Littleton, CO, United States of America

Ann V Durkin