A method is described for treating bran to improve sensory attributes in food products made with the treated bran. The method includes acidifying a bran to a pH of less than 5 for a period of time sufficient to achieve an increase in soluble protein, then increasing the pH to at least 5.5. Also described are compositions including a treated bran, and methods of using a treated bran to increase bran content in foods or to improve organoleptic qualities in foods containing bran.

The present invention describes a preparation of ingredients that includes alpha-cyclodextrin and other ingredients which permit the production of a dough suitable for processing in a traditional way and making bread with a reduced glycemic index.

Described are dough compositions and methods, wherein the dough composition is prepared using a metabolized portion of dough comprising bubbles, metabolically active yeast, and developed dough matrix, combined with non-metabolized yeast, and wherein the dough composition preferably has useful properties such as yeast-leavened freezer-to-oven capabilities, without the need for chemical leavening agents or modified atmosphere packaging.

The present invention relates to the production of wafers and more particularly to the use of a batter aerating system to obtain wafers with an effective density of at most 0.16 g/cm3, and with sufficient strength to be able to remove them from the wafer baking plates.

A method of producing a piece of laminated dough that is frozen after partial fermentation is provided. The method of producing the piece comprises the steps of: (a) mixing and kneading flour, water, yeast, gluten, and other materials to make a dough mass, (b) causing the dough mass to be formed in a belt-like shape, (c) putting fat on the formed dough to sandwich fat layers between dough layers to form a sheet of laminated dough in a long belt-like shape, (d) cutting the sheet to obtain a piece in a desired shape, (e) forming the piece into a piece in a desired shape, (f) fermenting the formed piece so that the specific volume of the piece becomes 1.2 to 1.8 cm.sup.3/g, (g) rapidly freezing the fermented piece, and (h) preserving the frozen piece in a freezer.

Egg replacement compositions suitable for use in baked goods as a substitute to natural eggs or natural egg components are described. The egg replacement composition can include 50 to 70 wt. % wheat protein isolate, 25 to 50 wt. % whey protein isolate and greater than 0 to 25 wt. % modified food starch. Such egg replacement compositions are particularly well suited to be used with or as a substitute to egg whites. Alternatively, the egg replacement composition can include 40 to 60 wt. % whey protein isolate and 60 to 40 wt. % modified food starch. Such egg replacement compositions are particularly well suited to be used with or as a substitute to egg yolks.

A grain flour includes milled grains of at least one grain selected from the group consisting of barley and oat. In the grain flour, the average grain diameter is in the range of 40-100 m. The content of grains having a grain diameter less than 20 m is not greater than 20 mass %, the content of grains having a grain diameter in the range of 20-100 m is in the range of 20-60 mass %, the content of grains having a grain diameter greater than 100 m and not greater than 500 m is in the range of 20-60 mass %, and the content of grains having a grain diameter greater than 500 m is not greater than 5%. An application food using the grain flour is produced from a starting material which contains at least 5% of the grain flour. A method for producing the grain flour is also provided.

Wheat protein-based dough relaxers are prepared by pre-reacting a high-concentration wheat protein product (e.g., vital wheat gluten, wheat protein isolate, and mixtures thereof) with a yeast product selected from inactivated non-leavening yeast, yeast extract, and mixtures thereof. The pre-reaction is preferably carried out using an aqueous slurry containing the protein and yeast products, followed by drying. The resultant dough relaxers may be incorporated into a wide variety of wheat protein-based dough formulations to enhance the handling properties thereof, especially dough extensibility and machinability, and reduced dough mixing times.

Bakery products having little or 0 net carbohydrates are described herein, as are methods of making such bakery products (e.g., dough and bread).

A shelf-stable, indulgent, soft-baked snack product (e.g., a soft-baked snack bar) having reduced saturated fat, sodium, and/or sugar levels (reduced SFSS) compared to prior art soft-baked snack products but that is indulgent and flavorful to the consumer. The snack product has a relatively high moisture content, preferably about 5 wt % to about 20 wt %. A dough composition for making reduced SFSS, shelf-stable, indulgent, soft-baked snack products includes a flour component, a fat component consisting of sunflower oil (e.g., high oleic sunflower oil), a plurality of crispy protein inclusions, and a sucrose-free sugar component including isolated fructose. Sodium-containing leaveners are partially or completely replaced, e.g., by potassium bicarbonate. If present, cocoa powder is used in reduced amounts compared to prior art soft-baked snack products. A method of making the reduced SFSS, shelf-stable, indulgent, soft-baked snack product with the crispy protein inclusions includes a step of baking the dough composition.