The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 10, 1995
Filed:
Dec. 15, 1993
Patrick S Lee, Palatine, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
A process for preparing a cohesive, retort-stable, shaped food piece. The process comprises: (a) preparing a premixture comprising, by weight, (1) from about 15% to about 65% by weight protein, (2) from about 15% to about 65% by weight starch, (3) from 0% to about 9% by weight fat, (4) from 0% to about 0.7% by weight added sulfur, and (5) from 0% to about 2% by weight dicalcium phosphate; (b) combining the premixture with water to form a secondary mixture, wherein the ratio of premixture to water is in the range of from about 1.6:1 to about 4:1; (c) mixing the secondary mixture for a period of time sufficient to obtain a substantially uniformly mixed dough and under conditions such that the temperature of the secondary mixture and uniformly mixed dough in the mixing operation are maintained in the range of from about 15.degree. C. to about 45.degree. C.; and (d) extruding the uniformly mixed dough into a desired shaped piece. The extrusion is carried out in conjunction with low specific mechanical energy and high pressure conditions, and under conditions such that the temperature of the uniformly mixed dough in the extrusion operation is in the range of from about 40.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. The present invention further relates to a piece prepared by the above-described process.