A popcorn popping system improves performance of a hot air popcorn popper. The system includes an air popper that pops popcorn thereby facilitating the popcorn to be consumed. A bowl is positioned on the air popper to contain the popcorn when the popcorn is popped. A screen is positioned on the bowl. The screen inhibits the popcorn from escaping the bowl when the popcorn is popped.

A popcorn popper is provided having a cabinet including a popcorn popping chamber, a kettle positioned within the popcorn popping chamber, at least one inlet provided in the top wall of the popcorn popping chamber configured to receive effluent from the kettle when popping popcorn and a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the at least one inlet that is configured to receive effluent from the at least one inlet. A filter is positioned in the recirculation passage and a blower including a housing in fluid communication with the recirculation passage is provided with an outlet of the housing being configured to direct filtered effluent into the popcorn popping chamber through the top wall and downwardly generally parallel to one of the side walls. A method of operating a popcorn popper is also provided.

Method of manufacturing puffed rice for an instant food product. The method includes subjecting rice that is boiled or steamed to first drying by blowing air, at a temperature of 100 degrees C. or lower, onto the rice until the rice is dried to a moisture content of between 20 mass percent and 30 mass percent. After the first drying, the rice is pressed and flattened. After the pressing and flattening, subjecting the rice to second drying performed by ventilation at a temperature of 100 degrees C. or lower until the rice has a specific gravity of between 0.55 g/mL and 0.7 g/mL. After the second drying, subjecting the rice to puffing and drying at a temperature of between 130 degrees C. and 160 degrees C. by directing an air stream onto the rice, said air stream having an air velocity of between 40 m/s and 92 m/s.

The present invention relates to a savoury seasoning composition, a method of preparing such a composition and to uses of such a composition.

The present invention relates to a savoury seasoning composition, a method of preparing such a composition and to uses of such a composition.

A heated air popcorn popper and related methods of popping popcorn in which unpopped kernels are retained in a heating zone and are prevented from being expelled before they have been exposed to a heated air stream for sufficient time to result in popping of the kernels. The popcorn popper can have a popping portion including a retention mechanism capable of moving in response to physical contact with popped kernels that experience a dramatic volumetric increase in size following popping. As the number of popped kernels within the popping portion increases, the level of the popped kernels rises until they physically contact the retention mechanism, whereby the retention mechanism is forced to transition from a covering disposition to an open disposition in which popped kernels are allowed to exit the heating zone.

A heated air popcorn popper and related methods of popping popcorn in which unpopped kernels are retained in a heating zone and are prevented from being expelled before they have been exposed to a heated air stream for sufficient time to result in popping of the kernels. The popcorn popper can have a popping portion including a retention mechanism capable of moving in response to physical contact with popped kernels that experience a dramatic volumetric increase in size following popping. As the number of popped kernels within the popping portion increases, the level of the popped kernels rises until they physically contact the retention mechanism, whereby the retention mechanism is forced to transition from a covering disposition to an open disposition in which popped kernels are allowed to exit the heating zone.

The present invention relates to a shaped savoury composition comprising particles of puffed maize endosperm. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing such a composition and to the use of puffed maize endosperm in food products.

The present invention relates to a shaped savoury composition comprising particles of puffed maize endosperm. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing such a composition and to the use of puffed maize endosperm in food products.

A vending machine for dispensing heated granular foodstuffs includes a receptacle dispensing assembly for dispensing a receptacle into a receiving zone. A cooled storage hopper stores granular foodstuffs, and has an open bottom end. A discharge assembly is in communication with the open bottom end for transporting the quantity of the granular foodstuffs away from the cooled storage hopper. A heating assembly receives the quantity of the granular foodstuffs from the discharge assembly, heats the quantity of the granular foodstuffs with a heating fluid, and dispenses the quantity of the granular foodstuffs into the receptacle in the receiving zone. A heating fluid generator supplies heating fluid to the heating assembly. A condiment dispenser dispenses at least one condiment into the receptacle in the receiving zone.