The invention comprises a method and apparatus for amending a food product, comprising the steps of: receiving into a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) licensed facility the food product from a geographic area outside of the THC licensed facility; subjecting a THC emulsion to shear forces exceeding 250,000 sec.sup.−1 in a high pressure emulsifier positioned inside the THC licensed facility; and spraying, with a sprayer, the THC emulsion onto the food product to form a THC amended food product.

A shelf stable fried product and a process for creating a shelf stable fried product is disclosed. Aspects include a process for managing fat migration, moisture migration, and cell degrading of a food product during frying. Aspects further include a resulting shelf stable food product that includes a crispy and/or crunchy texture and a desirable fat distribution.

A shelf stable fried product and a process for creating a shelf stable fried product is disclosed. Aspects include a process for managing fat migration, moisture migration, and cell degrading of a food product during frying. Aspects further include a resulting shelf stable food product that includes a crispy and/or crunchy texture and a desirable fat distribution.

The invention relates to method and a device for preparing a carbohydrate and/or protein product by subjecting a carbohydrate and/or protein to a heat treatment after a few ingredients have been added.

A shelf stable potato/sweet potato french fry product packaged in a hermetically sealed flexible bag/pouch without the need for a surrounding acidic solution has been disclosed. Such product has a lower pH, preferably below 4.6, with enhanced taste and texture profile features, such as: (a) 0% -2% fat content, (b) a hardness of the exterior layer between 350 gram to 2500 gram after frying, that allows for little to no need for battering of such products, and (c) a moisture content above 55%. These benefits are typically obtained by processing the pre-cut potato via a single-step processing technique which may or may not require pre-processing steps.

A shelf stable potato/sweet potato french fry product packaged in a hermetically sealed flexible bag/pouch without the need for a surrounding acidic solution has been disclosed. Such product has a lower pH, preferably below 4.6, with enhanced taste and texture profile features, such as: (a) 0% -2% fat content, (b) a hardness of the exterior layer between 350 gram to 2500 gram after frying, that allows for little to no need for battering of such products, and (c) a moisture content above 55%. These benefits are typically obtained by processing the pre-cut potato via a single-step processing technique which may or may not require pre-processing steps.

A robotic kitchen assistant for frying includes a robotic arm, a fryer basket, and a robotic arm adapter assembly allowing the robotic arm to pick up and manipulate the fryer basket. The robotic arm adapter includes opposing gripping members to engage the fryer basket. A utensil adapter assembly is mounted to the handle of the fryer basket, and the opposing gripper members are actuated to capture a three-dimensional (3D) feature of the utensil adapter assembly. The robotic arm adapter assembly can include an agitator mechanism to shake the fryer basket or another utensil as desired. Related methods are also described.

A robotic kitchen assistant for frying includes a robotic arm, a fryer basket, and a robotic arm adapter assembly allowing the robotic arm to pick up and manipulate the fryer basket. The robotic arm adapter includes opposing gripping members to engage the fryer basket. A utensil adapter assembly is mounted to the handle of the fryer basket, and the opposing gripper members are actuated to capture a three-dimensional (3D) feature of the utensil adapter assembly. The robotic arm adapter assembly can include an agitator mechanism to shake the fryer basket or another utensil as desired. Related methods are also described.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a device for cooking a starch-based food item. The device comprises: a vessel for receiving a quantity of the starch-based food item with an initial weight; a weighing scale for weighting the food item during cooking; a heater for heating the starch-based food item; and a controller coupled to the weighing scale and the heater, and configured to: cause the heater to cook the starch-based food item at a first temperature for a first time duration, wherein the first temperature is higher than a starch gelatinization temperature; and to cause the heater, in response to the determination that, based on the weighing scale reading, the weight of the starch-based food item drops by a first amount in a first range, to cook the starch-based food item at a second temperature for a second time duration sufficient for the weight of the starch-based food item to drop by a second amount, such that the combined drop of the first amount and the second amount relative to the initial weight is within a second range, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature and above 150° C. The device can make the cooked food healthier and more appetizing, which is beneficial to health especially for individuals with diabetes and obese individuals.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a device for cooking a starch-based food item. The device comprises: a vessel for receiving a quantity of the starch-based food item with an initial weight; a weighing scale for weighting the food item during cooking; a heater for heating the starch-based food item; and a controller coupled to the weighing scale and the heater, and configured to: cause the heater to cook the starch-based food item at a first temperature for a first time duration, wherein the first temperature is higher than a starch gelatinization temperature; and to cause the heater, in response to the determination that, based on the weighing scale reading, the weight of the starch-based food item drops by a first amount in a first range, to cook the starch-based food item at a second temperature for a second time duration sufficient for the weight of the starch-based food item to drop by a second amount, such that the combined drop of the first amount and the second amount relative to the initial weight is within a second range, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature and above 150° C. The device can make the cooked food healthier and more appetizing, which is beneficial to health especially for individuals with diabetes and obese individuals.