The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Charles C Huxsoll

Tara H McHugh

Merle L Weaver

Robert P Graham

Donald A Olson

The invention relates to intermediate-moisture formed food products made from a mixture of partially dehydrated fruit or vegetable pieces and a gelled matrix such that the water activity in the matrix is substantially equivalent to the water activity of the fruit or vegetable pieces in the mixture. The product may be made from one type of fruit or vegetable alone, a mixture of different fruits, a mixture of different vegetables, or a mixture of various fruit and vegetable pieces.

Intermediate-moisture formed food products made from partially dehydrated fruit and/or vegetables and novel methods of packing thereof

Value-added, restructured fruit and vegetable products made from bulk-processed ingredients are taught. The restructured fruit and vegetable products are to be eaten out-of-hand as confectionery items or incorporated into baked, canned and/or frozen foods, such as cereals, cookies, cakes, fruit cocktails and ice creams. Processing methods involving twin-screw extrusion used to obtain the restructured fruit and vegetable products are also taught.

Restructured fruit and vegetable products and processing methods

Novel process for peeling fruits and vegetables which yields maximum skin removal coupled with minimum weight loss. The primary feature of the invention is loosening the skin by applying multiple heat treatments, each followed by a cooling step. Each of the heatings is ineffective by itself to attain loosening of the skin, but the multiple heatings in aggregate and in conjunction with the coolings yield effective loosening of the skin without cooking the flesh of the fruit or vegetable being peeled.

Peeling fruits and vegetables by multiple heatings and coolings

System for peeling fruits or vegetables wherein the peel is loosened by a double treatment with lye, each treatment being followed by a holding period. After the second holding period, the peel is removed directly, that is, without any application of radiant or other heat.

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Moraga, CA, United States of America

Charles C Huxsoll