General Mills, Inc.

University of Minnesota

Nutricepts, Inc.

Lloyd E Metzger

James E Langler

David W Tobelmann

Venkatachalam Narayanaswamy

Donald A Grindstaff

Ling Tony Chen

Rongsheng Roger Ruan

John G Roufs

Shaobo Deng

Linda R Kreisman

Mayur Valanju

Aruna Prakash

Adelmo Monsalve-Gonzalez

Xingyang Lin

Christopher Jones

A fluid treatment device and method are provided for generating an electric field across a gap between first and second electrode and for concentrating the electric field within a fluid treatment chamber located in the gap.

Dielectric barrier reactor having concentrated electric field

A calcium lactate crystal inhibitor is added to the typical cheese-making recipe to inhibit the growth of calcium lactate crystals as the cheese ages. The calcium lactate crystal inhibitor is preferably a sodium salt of an organic acid, and is preferably added with sodium chloride or shortly after sodium chloride as part of the salting step. The calcium lactate crystal inhibitor can be identified in a solubility model as being effective in preventing calcium lactate crystal formation by having no or essentially no visually observable crystals and a minimal reduction (less than 5.0%, and more preferably less than 1.0%) in the calcium and lactate content of a calcium L-lactate pentahydrate solubility solution after 14 days of storage at 7&#xb0; C. The amount of calcium lactate crystal inhibitor salt is within the range of greater than zero to 10% of the weight of the curd, to result in a cheese having 0.26 to 2.8% calcium lactate crystal inhibitor in a cheddar cheese. The amount of calcium lactate crystal inhibitor salt added for other cheeses can be based upon the lactate content and salt retention of the cheese.

Cheese with calcium lactate crystal inhibitor

Sodium gluconate is added to the typical cheese-making recipe to inhibit the growth of calcium lactate crystals as the cheese ages. The sodium gluconate is preferably added with sodium chloride or shortly after sodium chloride as part of the salting step. The amount of sodium gluconate is within the range of greater than zero to 10% of the weight of the curd, to result in a cheese having 0.26 to 2.8% gluconate in the cheese. The amount of sodium gluconate added for other cheeses can be based upon the lactate content and salt retention of the cheese.

Cheese with sodium gluconate to inhibit calcium lactate crystal formation

The present invention describes bleached grain products such as bleached whole wheat flour that are obtained having the color and taste of white flour by bleaching whole wheat kernels prior to conventional flour milling. The wheat kernels are treated with a peroxide solution to lighten the color of the bran layers. The bleached grain kernels can be tempered and milled into whole grain flours having 10% to 12% dietary fiber from the bran but which are white in color and bland in flavor. The whitened, high fiber whole wheat flours can be used to prepare good tasting, and nutritious products such as baked goods such as breads and pastries as well as pasta product, and ready-to-eat cereals or grain based snacks.

Method of bleaching cereal grains

A method of bleaching bran, comprising treating bran with a hydrogen peroxide solution to produce lightened bran having fewer native flavor components is disclosed. In one embodiment, a bleached bran product suitable for admixing with whole wheat flour to produce white whole wheat flour having an 'L' value on the Hunter scale of at least about 75 is disclosed. In one embodiment, cleaned bran is treated with a solution of chelating agents to remove or inactivate transition metals. Thereafter, exposure to oxidant substances, such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and so forth, in the presence of an alkaline compound produces bleached bran, which can be washed and dried for use in products such as flours, pastas, and so forth.

Bleach bran and bran products

The present invention describes bleached grain products, such as bleached whole wheat flour, that are obtained having the color and taste of white flour by bleaching whole wheat kernels prior to conventional flour milling. The wheat kernels are treated with a peroxide solution to lighten the color of the bran layers. The bleached grain kernels can be tempered and milled into whole grain flours having 10% to 12% dietary fiber.

Method of bleaching cereal grain

Improved wheat milling processes for the production of white flour involves selecting a hard white wheat variety for milling, milling the hard white wheat into white patent flour, isolating a high bran stream, size reducing the high bran stream and sifting the size reduced high bran stream into a fine bran and bran flour fractions. The bran flour fraction is then blended with the white patent flour to form a high fiber finish flour which nonetheless is characterized by a white color. The wheat milling processes provide improvements in current wheat milling to increase the milling extraction rate for flour without a decrease in flour quality.

Process of milling hard white wheat and products thereof

A shelf stable ready-to-bake batter article for baked goods comprises an unpressurized gas impermeable container, a high pH, low water activity, batter that is substantially free (less than 0.1%) of conventional CO,gas producing leavening agents disposed within the container and partially filling the container and an inert low oxygen gas in the headspace not filled by the batter. The ratio of sugar to flour in the batter ranges from about 0.5:1 to 3.5:1. The batter has a water activity of less than 0.85.

Shelf stable batter article and method of preparation

A shelf stable ready-to-bake batter article for baked goods comprises an unpressurized gas impermeable container, low water activity, batter with a leavening system disposed within the container and partially filling the container and an inert low oxygen gas in the headspace not filled by the batter. The ratio of sugar to flour in the batter ranges from about 0.5:1 to 2.5:1. The batter has a water activity of less than 0.85.

Growing community of inventors

Champlin, MN, United States of America

Lloyd E Metzger