Vegetable snacks without fat are produced by placing sliced objects such as potato slices (3) on a net belt (1) in a single layer and by first carrying them through a pre-drying zone (5) and then a treatment zone (6) where the potato slices are puffed. The puffed potato slices (3') are then carried to a post-drying zone (7) and conveyed through same by a belt (2) whereafter the finished potato chips (3") are packed. In all heating zones (5,6,7) there may be used heating elements (4) treating the...

Preparation of a wheat flour pasta by preparing a dough, shaping the dough into individual pasta pieces, pre-drying the pieces to a moisture content between 22 and 27 per cent by utilizing warm dry air and then drying the pasta to between 8 and 13 per cent moisture by application of microwave energy. The use of microwave energy materially reduces the overall drying time and produces a pasta with a shortened rehydrating time and less microbiological buildup.

The present invention provides methods for improving the baking properties of cake flour using microwave heating. The microwave treated cake flour is intended as a substitute for chlorinated cake flour. The present unchlorinated, microwave treated cake flour is an essential ingredient in dry mixes for batter baked goods especially high sugar-to-flour ratio layer cakes. In addition to other dry mix ingredients, preferred dry mixes additionally essentially comprise about 0.15% to 0.45% triglycerol...

A fat-absorbing substance is added to a fat-based food, such as cream and cheese, which then is dehydrated with microwave radiation under reduced pressure.

A method of manufacturing an edible soy protein-containing, dried meat product containing a fibrous soy protein product of fibril structure having a random orientation, and a natural meat. A mixture of the fibrous soy protein product and the natural meat is heat-treated and dried. The amount of the fibrous soy protein product must be not less than 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the natural meat employed.

A method for producing dehydrated potato slices, specifically suitable for making French fries and French fries produced therefrom, utilizes the application of microwave energy under selected vacuum conditions and a specific range of microwave energy application to produce dried potato slices having a water activity of no more than 0.85.

Process, for producing a dry, crips, puffed natural butterfat containing cheese snack in which cheese snack precursor pieces having a fat content of 17-34% and a moisture content of 20-50% are both baked in a convection oven and subjected to microwave cooking to puff and dry pieces.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing fruit powder from fruit or fruit by-products of industrial processing of fruits, wherein the fruit of fruit by-product is cut up, and dried in microwave apparatus at a maximum temperature of about 65.degree. C., and then comminuted. Preferred fruits processed according to the invention are apple, fruit with pits, berries, citrus fruit, and tropical fruit. The fruit powder according to the invention can be used for human consumption and fod...

Decaffeinated coffee of improved quality is achieved using a process wherein caffeine-containing green coffee is countercurrently extracted with a water solution of coffee solubles. The decaffeinated coffee removed from the extraction zone is treated to remove surface solids contained thereon and is then dried at temperatures not in excess of 200.degree. F. The critical combination of a specified lower limit of surface solids on the coffee prior to drying and the drying temperature has been foun...

Methods for preparing a puffable food product suitable for cooking by microwaving, deep fat frying and hot air cooking are disclosed. The methods include mixing a starch with water at a temperature and for a time sufficient to at least partially gelatinize the starch, forming the mixture into a sheet and subjecting the sheet to a steam treatment to fully gelatinize the starch. The sheet is then cooled and cut into pellets of a desired shape and the pellets are dried. The inclusion of flavoring i...