The invention relates to a method for treating a food product by non-conventional resistive heating using. contact with spaced-apart electrically conductive electrodes connected to a power source that regulates current to the electrodes by pausing heating of the food product to a predetermined temperature. The electrodes are configured into two groups at a first distance from one another. Each electrode group has individual electrodes, similar to a comb-like set of needles, wherein neighboring needles of each group are at a second distance from one another that is greater than or equal to the first distance. Each set of needles penetrates the food product such that points of the needles leave penetration points, wherein the food product is accommodated in a space between two conveyor belts and the individual electrodes extend from at least one of the conveyor belts in the direction of the opposite conveyor belt.

A popcorn popper configured to cook popcorn includes a vessel and an electric heating element which heats the vessel. A vibration element vibrates the vessel and a controller controls the heating element and the vibration element. A temperature sensor is in communication with the controller such that the controller can receive temperature readings from the temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of the vessel. The controller activating the heating element to heat the vessel which contains the popcorn until the temperature sensor indicates that a first temperature has been reached. The controller, based on readings from the temperature sensor, maintains the vessel at a second temperature by controlling a power setting of the heating element and the controller activates the vibration element to vibrate the vessel which thereby vibrates the popcorn. The controller after maintaining the vessel at the second temperature, reduces the power of the heating element.

The present invention relates to a method for performing a cooking process on a food product ready to be cooked on the basis of a cooking recipe information provided in a cooking recipe (10). At least one food model (30) is generated on the basis of the cooking recipe information and a database (14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28). The cooking recipe (10) comprises at least one of the information about: —an ingredient, —a preparation step or process, —the shape of unprocessed food, and —composition, properties and condition of the food product. The database (14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28) comprises information about ingredients and/or unprocessed food, which may be basic nutrient information of ingredients and/or unprocessed food, particularly information about content of at least one of: water, fat, carbohydrates and proteins. The database (14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28) may also comprise, in addition or alternatively, information about at least one thermal property of the unprocessed food or food product ready to be cooked. If applicable, at least one thermal property of the food product ready to be cooked, in particular its density, thermal conductivity and/or heat capacity, is estimated on the basis of the cooking recipe information and the basic nutrient information. At least one cooking parameter of the cooking process, in particular temperature of the cooking equipment and/or environment, duration of a cooking program and/or program segment and/or program step, heating mode, etc., is defined based on the food model (30) and/or on at least the provided or estimated at least one thermal property of the food product.

The present invention relates to a method for performing a cooking process on a food product ready to be cooked on the basis of a cooking recipe information provided in a cooking recipe (10). At least one food model (30) is generated on the basis of the cooking recipe information and a database (14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28). The cooking recipe (10) comprises at least one of the information about: —an ingredient, —a preparation step or process, —the shape of unprocessed food, and —composition, properties and condition of the food product. The database (14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28) comprises information about ingredients and/or unprocessed food, which may be basic nutrient information of ingredients and/or unprocessed food, particularly information about content of at least one of: water, fat, carbohydrates and proteins. The database (14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28) may also comprise, in addition or alternatively, information about at least one thermal property of the unprocessed food or food product ready to be cooked. If applicable, at least one thermal property of the food product ready to be cooked, in particular its density, thermal conductivity and/or heat capacity, is estimated on the basis of the cooking recipe information and the basic nutrient information. At least one cooking parameter of the cooking process, in particular temperature of the cooking equipment and/or environment, duration of a cooking program and/or program segment and/or program step, heating mode, etc., is defined based on the food model (30) and/or on at least the provided or estimated at least one thermal property of the food product.

The present application relates to microwavable packaged frozen rice and a manufacturing method therefor, and applies a susceptor technique to packaged frozen rice so as to produce, through a cooking process using a microwave oven, the scorched texture of rice which could only be produced through pan cooking.

A method for producing a fruit or vegetable product, wherein the method consists essentially of (a) infusing a whole or sliced fruit or vegetable with an infusible molecule to between 10 and 55° Brix; (b) pre-drying the whole or sliced fruit or vegetable at a temperature between 80° C. and 120° C. to produce a pre-dried fruit or vegetable; (c) exposing the pre-dried fruit or vegetable to freezing temperatures and to vacuum to a temperature between −1° C. and −40° C. and a pressure between 7.5 mmHg and 0.53 mmHg, thereby partially subliming the fruit or vegetable; (d) puffing the fruit or vegetable under vacuum between 0.1 mmHg and 600 mmHg at a temperature between 40° C. and 110° C.; (e) cooling the fruit or vegetable under vacuum to a temperature between 0° C. and 40° C., to thereby produce the fruit or vegetable product.

There is provided a food item capable of maintaining the good crispy texture of the caramelized portion for a long period of time. A surface-baked food item is characterized by including a first food item, and a second food item containing fat and oil, wherein part or all of the surface of the second food item is coated with a heated product of sugar. Furthermore, the second food item is preferably at least one type or two types or more food items selected from the food item group consisting of chocolates and fats and oils.

There is provided a food item capable of maintaining the good crispy texture of the caramelized portion for a long period of time. A surface-baked food item is characterized by including a first food item, and a second food item containing fat and oil, wherein part or all of the surface of the second food item is coated with a heated product of sugar. Furthermore, the second food item is preferably at least one type or two types or more food items selected from the food item group consisting of chocolates and fats and oils.

Provided is a method for producing a noodle-like fried vegetable food product which is effectively prevented from damage such as cracking and breaking in a packaging step in the process of production of the noodle-like fried vegetable or during transportation and which, when reconstituted with hot water, has the texture of the original vegetable and can be eaten like noodles; and such a noodle-like fried vegetable food product. A method for producing a noodle-like fried vegetable food product according to one embodiment comprises forming a noodle-like vegetable by cutting a vegetable into a noodle-like shape; providing an oil frying container provided with a retainer; placing the noodle-like vegetable in the retainer of the oil frying container to form a mass of the noodle-like vegetable; and frying the noodle-like vegetable mass placed in the retainer with oil. The method further comprises compressing the noodle-like vegetable mass in the middle of the frying of the noodle-like vegetable mass with oil or immediately after the frying with oil.

This present disclosure provides reliable methods and apparatus for delivering a pharmaceutical active ingredient to a food product that is produced in a batch process. In one example, the active pharmaceutical ingredient is added after the batch food product has been cooked and cooled. The food product can be a candy, a baked good, or any alternative food product that is mixed as a batch and subsequently cooked and cooled.