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:
Jun. 11, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 14, 2000
Dalip K. Nayyar, Grayslake, IL (US);
Laura G. Hill, Prospect Heights, IL (US);
K. Rajinder Nauth, Wheeling, IL (US);
Jimbay P. Loh, Green Oaks, IL (US);
Maluwa Behringer, Evanston, IL (US);
Lisa Apel, Evanston, IL (US);
Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc., Northfield, IL (US);
Abstract
Premium quality intermediate moisture vegetables and methods for preparing such vegetables are provided. The premium quality intermediate moisture vegetables are prepared by (a) infusing vegetables with an antimicrobial infusion cocktail at a temperature of greater than about 50° F. for about 15 to about 180 minutes, wherein the antimicrobial infusion cocktail comprises an aqueous solution of (1) a water-soluble, predominantly lower molecular weight, low sweetness carbohydrate, (2) a polyhydric alcohol, (3) salt, (4) a non-inorganic sweetness depressant agent, and (5) nisin-containing whey derived from a nisin-producing culture; (b) collecting the vegetables and removing excess antimicrobial infusion cocktail; (c) drying the collected vegetables to a water activity of about 0.5 to about 0.9 to form the intermediate moisture vegetables; and (d) packaging the intermediate moisture vegetables. After drying to a water activity of about 0.5 to about 0.9, the intermediate moisture vegetables of the present invention are shelf stable. For example, such intermediate moisture vegetables having a water activity of about 0.55 to about 0.65 are expected to be shelf stable for about twelve months under ambient conditions; intermediate moisture vegetables having a water activity of about 0.75 to about 0.85 are expected to be shelf stable for about 90 days under refrigeration conditions. When cooked, these intermediate moisture vegetables provide appearance, texture, and taste similar to that provided by high quality cooked frozen vegetables.