The present invention relates to a method for forming fruit and vegetables by means of ultrasonic waves, to a convenience food item comprising fruit and vegetables formed in this way, and to the use of ultrasonic waves for forming fruit and vegetables.

Disclosed is a method for the production of a stable fruit preparation comprising the steps of addition of active pectinmethylesterase (PME) to a fruit preparation to perform an enzymation step on the fruit preparation, followed by inactivation of PME in the fruit preparation to obtain a stable fruit preparation, wherein gelation is prevented or at least significantly reduced during the presence of active PME in the fruit preparation by applying mechanical stress to the fruit preparation comprising active PME.

The present invention refers to a method and an equipment for the extraction of compounds from grapes by means of ultrasound in vinification processes generated through a sonoplate coupled to the walls of the pipe/duct through which the crushed grapes flow. During this extraction the transfer of phenols responsible for color from the solid portion (skin) to the liquid portion after crushing the grapes takes place as a consequence of the phenomenon known as cavitation, which allows the breaking of the skin cells and makes the phenolic compounds responsible for the color available to the liquid medium to be integrated in said liquid medium enhancing wine color.

Described herein are food additives prepared from the inner core of a banana plant stem, along with methods of making and using same.

Described herein are food additives prepared from the inner core of a banana plant stem, along with methods of making and using same.

A method for producing a purée from a food product, comprising the following steps: refining the food product up to obtaining a purée; de-activating the enzymes by heating the purée, in order to prevent oxidation of the purée. The step of de-activating the enzymes comprises the step of passing an electric current through the purée between electrodes of a first ohmic heater (31).

A self-combining receptacle for producing a coated or partially-coated product or an admixture product is provided according to the invention. This receptacle can comprise a food service container for finger food like French fries having a sealed package of ketchup or other condiment installed in the bottom of the container and below the French fries where a closure panel extending outside the receptacle is pulled in a lateral direction away from the receptacle to peel off the closure panel to open the condiment package inside the container whereupon the French fries automatically drop down inside the container into the condiment contained in the now-opened condiment package. Alternatively, the self-combining receptacle may comprise two open faced vessels that are fitted together to join their common open faces with a common closure panel sealing the two open faces to divide the two vessels containing separate components of an admixture product. When the closure panel is removed from the receptacle or pierced by means of an integral utensil device, the two product components can be mixed together to produce the admixture product. Such an admixture product may comprise a food dish like fruit, granola pieces, chocolate pieces, or syrup mixed into yogurt or ice cream, or an industrial product like two resin components mixed together to produce an epoxy adhesive.

A method for extracting a wasabi extract is characterized in that: 53 to 61 part by weight of a wasabi powder and 25 to 30 parts by weight of pure scotch whisky are mixed to produce a wasabi extract; and the wasabi extract is placed in an oak barrel and fermented for at least 48 hours, after which 14 to 17 parts by weight of a wasabi sinigrin extract that has collected in an upper layer portion is extracted therefrom. Further, when fermenting the wasabi extract to which undiluted whisky has been added inside the oak barrel, wasabi inside yeast cell walls formed in the upper layer portion is collected, and the method has the effect of maintaining the taste and aroma of the wasabi extract collected inside the yeast cell walls, that is, the sinigrin extract.

Methods for producing an activated pectin-containing biomass composition are provided. The method includes (A) mixing a starting pectin-containing biomass material comprising an insoluble fiber component and an insoluble protopectin component with an aqueous solution of an alcohol to form a mixture; (B) activating the starting pectin-containing biomass material to form an activated pectin-containing biomass material comprising the insoluble fiber component and a soluble pectin component by subjecting the starting pectin-containing biomass material to (i) an activating solution formed by adding acid to the mixture to adjust the pH of the mixture within the range from at or about 0.5 to at or about 2.5 and (ii) heat to a temperature greater than at or about 40 degrees Celsius; and (C) applying mechanical energy either (i) to the mixture of step A), (ii) during the activating of step B), or (iii) to the mixture of step A) and during the activating of step B); and (D) separating the activated pectin-containing biomass material from the mixture; wherein during the method the alcohol present in the mixture is at or greater than about 40 weight percent based on the total weight of the mixture. Activated pectin-containing biomass compositions are also provided.

A method for producing a fermentate including the steps of obtaining a fruit or vegetable extract, treating the extract with a hydrolytic enzyme, mixing the extract with a fermenting microorganism, water, and a growth media to produce a liquid composition; and incubating the liquid composition at a controlled temperature and a controlled pH to produce a fermentate. A method for killing or inhibiting the growth of a contaminating microorganism on or within a food product, and a food product including a fermentate having a cellular mass component from a fermenting microorganism, a fermented fruit or vegetable extract and a hydrolytic enzyme are disclosed. A fermentate produced by any one of the methods described is contemplated. The fermentate may be a concentrated liquid or a dry powder and has the ability to inhibit the growth of a contaminating microorganism by 100% when diluted to less than 5% (w/v).