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:
Aug. 13, 1996
Filed:
Jul. 28, 1994
Rei Young Wu, Palatine, IL (US);
Hunt-Wesson, Inc., Fullerton, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a shelf-stable, packaged, legume-containing product, said process comprising: (a) preconditioning dry legumes by contacting said dry legumes with a sufficient amount of an initial water source and for a sufficient period of time to produce pretreated legumes having a moisture content in the range of from about 15 wt. % to about 35 wt. %; (b) hydrating said pretreated legumes by contacting said pretreated legumes with a sufficient amount of a secondary water source for a sufficient period of time to produce hydrated legumes having a moisture content in the range of from about 35 wt. % to about 55 wt. %, wherein said secondary water source is at a temperature in the range of from about 60.degree. C. to about 95.degree. C.; (c) combining said hydrated legumes with a vehicle, thereby producing a legume-containing mixture comprising from about 10 wt. % to about 55 wt. % of said hydrated legumes and a balance of said vehicle; (d) charging said legume-containing mixture into a retortable vessel; (e) sealing said retortable vessel; and (f) heating said legume-containing mixture in said sealed retortable vessel in a retort operation carried out at a temperature in the range of from about 110.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C. for a period of time in the range of from about 20 minutes to about 150 minutes, thereby producing a shelf-stable, packaged legume-containing product. The present invention also relates to a shelf-stable, packaged, legume-containing product prepared by the above process.