Nestec S.a.

Gary J Larson

Jau Y Hsu

Elaine Regina Wedral

Cheryl A Groesbeck

Powdered cellulose is treated by combining it with a flavoring agent and from 25 to 75 parts by weight of water per 100 parts by weight of powdered cellulose, which is an amount of water sufficient to wet substantially all of the cellulose, mixing the whole and then heating the mixture to remove most of the water from the treated cellulose. A gelling agent also advantageously is combined with the powdered cellulose, flavoring agent and water before mixing the whole and then removing the water.

Treatment of powdered cellulose

A dried precooked rice product is prepared by cooking rice grains for obtaining a moisture content of from 55% to 75% by weight and then by drying the cooked rice grains at a temperature of from 140.degree. C. to 185.degree. C. in two stages, firstly under stationary conditions to a moisture content of from 20% to 35% and secondly under agitated conditions to a moisture content of from 3% to 15%, for providing a precooked dried rice produce having a bulk density of from 37 g/100 cm to 42 g/100 cm. 100 g of the rice product so produced is capable of absorbing from 195 g to 225 g of boiled hot water in 10 minutes rehydration in 500 g of boiled hot water.

Preparation of dried precooked rice product

A process for the preparation of a precooked pasta product which comprises boiling a raw pasta in acidified water to partially cook the pasta, soaking the partially cooked pasta in acidified water, the cooking and soaking conditions being chosen to give the soaked, partially cooked pasta a pH of from 3.8 to 4.3 and a moisture content of from 61% to 68%, the soaking time being sufficient to enable the partially cooked pasta to absorb a further 3% to 7% water after boiling, coating with acidified cream having a milk fat content from 20% to 40% by weight based on the weight of cream, flush packaging with an inert gas or vacuum packaging, sealing and finally heat processing to complete the cooking.

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New Milford, CT, United States of America

Gary J Larson