Borden, Inc.

Borden Foods Corporation

Other

Carleton G Merritt

Dhyaneshwar B Chawan

Yanien Lee

Stephen R Gillmore

Edward A Matuszak

Nancy E Dermody

Scot A Irvin

David J Keller

Carl Michael Norman

Raymond Gregory Kowalski

Winston H Wingerd

Edward E Bretch

Clifford K Bath

Kurt Alpha

Wiley W Hargrove

Catherine E Hoyda

Robert A Fedor

Radwan H Ibrahim

Romeo J Ventres

A shaped and cooked pasta product is produced and coated with an edible hydrophillic additive which improves the retrogradation tendencies of the cooked and/or refrigerated pasta product. In a preferred embodiment salt is added to the alimentary paste used to prepare the pasta prior to extrusion. The presence of salt and the edible hydrophillic additive in the cooked pasta exhibit synergy in preventing retrogradation. These additives help maintain pasta texture after long periods of storage even after exposure to elevated temperatures and refrigeration. In a most preferred embodiment, the extruded product further includes propylene glycol alginate which further improves the anti-retrogradation properties of the cooked pasta. The cooked product coated with the edible hydrophillic additive can be further coated with an edible acid and an edible oil prior to packaging.

Method to prevent starch retrogradation in pasta products

A method is disclosed which uses propylene glycol alginate to improve the texture of food compositions. Pasta is provided which exhibits improved texture retention after refrigeration or freezing. In addition, the use of propylene glycol alginate allows the use of non-wheat flours, such as oat flour, corn flour, corn starch, pea flour, lima bean flour, soybean flour, and navy bean flour in the production of pasta-like foods.

Use of propylene glycol aliginate to improve the texture of cooked pasta

A double walled drum of concentric cylinders having end seals and insulation between the cylinders. The drum is open at both ends and rotates on its center longitudinal axis which is pitched from the horizontal with the entrance on the high side. Diameter restrictions at the entrance and discharge ends of the drum increase product residence time. Lifters at the entrance end discharge end push flexible strandular food subject to microbial spoilage such as strands of cooked pasta away from the entrance and out the discharge. Pins are mounted perpendicular to the inner cylinder wall and point to the central axis of the drum. Liquids such as acid and oil are sprayed onto the food in the drum from a spray bar or spray manifold. The pins continuously lift and separate the strands of food while it moves through the drum, and mix the liquid and product, resulting in a uniform coating. This process and apparatus produce a uniformly coated flexible strandular food such as spaghetti with minimal temperature loss. The food is free flowing and not tangled at the discharge of the drum. Surges from upstream equipment are suppressed, producing a uniform flow to downstream equipment.

Coating drum for cooked pasta

Fully cooked, starchy foodstuffs, such as rice and pasta, are preserved against microbiological spoilage by treatment with a predetermined quantity of an edible acid. Packages of fully cooked starchy foodstuffs are provided which are shelf-stable for periods in excess of 6 months and are neutralized to a proper pH to avoid sourness. Ready-to-eat meals of neutralized acid preserved starchy foodstuffs are also provided. Edible alkaline neutralizing agents may be used to balance the pH. Also provided are methods for producing shelf-stable fully cooked, starchy foodstuffs wherein measured quantities of acid are introduced to fully cooked, starchy foodstuffs to inhibit microbiological growth.

Cooked and packaged starchy foodstuffs

A method for making a couscous-like product from scrap generated during conventional pasta production.

Couscous-like product made from pasta scrap

A method for making shaped pasta products having a reduced moisture content. The drying requirements for these shaped pasta products are substantially reduced permitting a substantial savings in energy and time. Processing at reduced moisture levels is accomplished by operating at higher extrusion temperatures. The temperature is selected so as to avoid cooking the extruded alimentary pastes. Dried, uncooked pastas having a unique appearance are also provided.

Method of making macaroni or noodle products using a low moisture

Process of coating strandula food

An apparatus for forming extruded pasta shapes. The apparatus is a die plate having a plurality of orifices wherein the die plate is heated, e.g., to a temperature of at least about 130.degree. F. (about 54.degree. C.), and preferably about 160.degree. F. (about 71.degree. C.) A coating is provided on only a portion of the interior surface of each orifice such that heat transfer to the paste is substantially inhibited in a given orifice until the cross section of the orifice has reached its smallest value.

Heated die plate for making extruded pasta shapes

A method of forming extruded pasta shapes is disclosed. The method comprises forming pasta shaped by feeding a feedstock comprises of glutinous flour and water to an extruder that is equipped with a die plate having a plurality of holes, and extruding said alimentary paste through the holes in the extruder die plate by internal pressure. Extrusion is performed in such a manner that the extruded alimentary paste remains substantially uncooked. The improvement provided by the invention comprises heating the extruder die plate to a temperature of at least about 130.degree. F. (about 54.degree. C.), and preferably about 160.degree. F. (about 71.degree. C.), in order to attain the advantages of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, a coating is provided on a portion of the interior of the holes such that heat transfer to the paste is substantially inhibited until the cross section of the hole has reached its smallest value. A heated extrusion die plate and the shaped alimentary paste prepared therewith are also disclosed.

Method for making extruded pasta shapes

It has been discovered that dried extruded pasta shapes prepared in certain ways display a high toleration for exposure to water at temperatures of less than boiling. This toleration is conveniently evaluated by cooking in a microwave over and then extracting with room temperature water to determine if the starch loss is less than 7.0 weight percent. This toleration is obtained by exposing the extruded pasta shapes to temperatures of about 180.degree. F. or greater, temperatures of about 165.degree. F. or greater if the pasta contains a low temperature coagulatable protein such as egg whites or simple room temperature aging if the pasta contains both a low temperature coagulatable protein and a sulfhydryl reducing agent such as 1-cysteine hydrochloride. This toleration makes the pasta amenable to a number of cooking procedures such as presoaking in cold water prior to cooling (thus dramatically reducing the cooking time), and cooking in a microwave oven. It also makes the pasta amenable to cooking in just the amount of water which it will absorb in becoming cooked, thus providing an incentive for including lipid based flavoring agents in the pasta.

One-step flavored pasta products and processes for preparing fast

The invention relates to a shelf stable, filled pasta product and a process for preparing same. A pasta casing is prepared from a dough of flour, water and optionally eggs, and a filling material of, for example, beef, chicken or cheese, is placed inside the pasta dough casing. During drying, an equilibration of moisture contents occurs between the pasta and the filling material whereby a final moisture content of about 18-22% by weight and a water activity (A.sub.w) of not more than 0.85 are achieved. By this process is produced a filled pasta product with non-refrigerated shelf life exceeding nine months.

Method of preparing shelf stable, filled dough food products

Fully cooked, starchy foodstuffs, such as rice and pasta, are preserved against microbiological spoilage by treatment with a predetermined quantity of an edible acid. Packages of fully cooked starchy foodstuffs are provided which are self-stable for periods in excess of 6 months and are neutralized to a proper pH to avoid sourness. Ready-to-eat meals of neutralized acid preserved starchy foodstuffs are also provided. Edible alkaline neutralizing agents are used to balance the pH. Also provided are methods for producing shelf-stable packages of fully cooked, starchy foodstuffs wherein measured quantities of acid are introduced to fully cooked, starchy foodstuffs to inhibit microbiological growth.

A process for preparing a microwave cooked pasta product is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of (a) combining flour, egg whites, water, and optionally whole eggs, and a dibasic or tribasic organic acid derivative such as a tricarboxylic acid ester derivative, to form a paste, (b) drying the paste to produce pasta at drying temperatures of 100.degree. to 130.degree. F., (c) optionally soaking the pasta in hot or cold temperature liquid for a period of time sufficient to at least partially hydrate the paste, (d) heating the pasta for a period of time sufficient to cook the pasta, e.g. about 1 to 2 minutes. A preferred acid derivative is triethyl citrate. The heating can be achieved by exposure to microwave radiation. The cooked pasta is characterized by a starch loss upon cooking of less than about 8% by weight, based on uncooked pasta weight, and by texture superior to that obtained without the dibasic or tribasic organic acid derivative. A shelf stable, microwave cookable, prepackaged pasta or noodle product is also disclosed.

Microwavable pasta product comprising triethyl citrate and eggs and a

The present invention provides a rapid and continuous process for making corn dough masa and tortilla chips by processing non-hydrated corn feed, an alkalizing agent, and water through a cooker-extruder under certain process parameters so as to make the masa and subsequently the finished tortilla product. The corn feed can be any form of corn ranging from whole kernel corn to finely ground corn flour. The extruder process conditions use a Specific Mechanical Energy input of 300 to 550 watt hours per kilogram of material fed to the extruder; a Residence Time Distribution of from about 175 to 400 seconds; a Shear Rate of 65 to 140 reciprocal seconds; and a Peak Temperature of 230.degree. F. to 270.degree. F.

Continuous extrusion for tortilla chip production

The invention relates to a method for preparing low calorie pasta product comprising glutinous flour, an added fiber source, a reducing agent, and water. The use of a reducing agent in the method of the invention neutralizes oxidizers present in or on the surface of the added fiber source whereby improved texture and mouth feel of high fiber-containing pasta is achieved. The amount of corn fiber, soy fiber, oat fiber, etc. in the pasta can be up to about 30 percent by weight without adverse effect on paste texture or color. By replacing some of the glutinous flour in the pasta with bulk fiber, the calorie content of the pasta is reduced.

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Phoenix, NY, United States of America

Carleton G Merritt