The present application relates to a method for sterilizing processed foods which effectively kills fungi, yeast, pathogenic bacteria, and sporogenic heat-resistant microorganisms by using a retort sterilization treatment comprising a microwave heating pretreatment while still maintaining the intrinsic texture of vegetables, meat and seafood and the flavors of aromatic vegetables, such as red pepper, garlic, ginger, etc. compared to conventional sterilization methods.

A ecological vegetable preservation method and an ecological vegetable preservation and growing case. The method includes circularly supplying a nutrient solution to a vegetable in a thermal insulation case body, and regulating temperature, humidity and/or illumination in the thermal insulation case body, so that the vegetable in the thermal insulation case body stays in a growth-retarded state or a slow growth state. Application of the present method and ecological vegetable preservation and growing case allows the growth state of the vegetable to be controlled, thus ensuring to the greatest extent the freshness of the vegetable.

Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a ready to use storage stable food composition. The method comprises comminuting an admixture of a fresh plant material and an oil at a substantially neutral pH and under conditions whereby browning enzymes in the plant material are substantially prevented from reacting; rapidly heating the admixture to a temperature at which the browning enzymes are substantially inactivated, and under conditions whereby the admixture loses substantially no weight during heating; and cooling the heated admixture to a temperature at which growth of spoilage organisms does not occur. Also disclosed herein are ready to use storage stable food compositions. When the compositions are combined with foods containing phenolic compounds, no browning of the food occurs.

Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a ready to use storage stable food composition. The method comprises comminuting an admixture of a fresh plant material and an oil at a substantially neutral pH and under conditions whereby browning enzymes in the plant material are substantially prevented from reacting; rapidly heating the admixture to a temperature at which the browning enzymes are substantially inactivated, and under conditions whereby the admixture loses substantially no weight during heating; and cooling the heated admixture to a temperature at which growth of spoilage organisms does not occur. Also disclosed herein are ready to use storage stable food compositions. When the compositions are combined with foods containing phenolic compounds, no browning of the food occurs.

The disclosed technology includes a food system that prepares food based on a user's preferences and environment (e.g., health and diet, tastes, availability of food, costs, location, and what is stored or available for the food preparation system). The food system can store, cool, serve, prepare, juice, recognize with an antenna array, cut, weigh, sanitize, or compost food. The food system can include a robotic arm or water jet for cutting a food item. The disclosed technology improves food consumption for users based on diet and observed behavior (e.g., tracking caloric intake and exercise).

Embodiments provide a microwave oven comprising a microwave generator, a control unit that controls the microwave generator, a tray produced from a microwave permeable material and whereon foodstuffs such as vegetables and fruits to be dried are placed, and a cavity wherein the tray is placed.

An apparatus and method for microwave vacuum-drying of organic materials, such as food products. The apparatus has a microwave vacuum chamber 20, a loading module 36 to load containers 38 of the organic material into the vacuum chamber, a rotatable cylindrical cage 64 in the vacuum chamber for rotating the containers, a piston 114 for moving the rotating containers through the vacuum chamber, and means for unloading the containers of dehydrated material from the vacuum chamber. The apparatus may include an equilibration chamber 150 for cooling the dehydrated material under reduced pressure, and a transfer module 42 to transfer the containers from the vacuum chamber to the equilibration chamber. The apparatus has a microwave transparent window 54 for transmission of radiation into the vacuum chamber, and a gas jet 58, 60, 62 for blowing a stream of gas, such as air or nitrogen, into the vacuum chamber adjacent to the window.

An apparatus and method for microwave vacuum-drying of organic materials, such as food products. The apparatus has a microwave vacuum chamber 20, a loading module 36 to load containers 38 of the organic material into the vacuum chamber, a rotatable cylindrical cage 64 in the vacuum chamber for rotating the containers, a piston 114 for moving the rotating containers through the vacuum chamber, and means for unloading the containers of dehydrated material from the vacuum chamber. The apparatus may include an equilibration chamber 150 for cooling the dehydrated material under reduced pressure, and a transfer module 42 to transfer the containers from the vacuum chamber to the equilibration chamber. The apparatus has a microwave transparent window 54 for transmission of radiation into the vacuum chamber, and a gas jet 58, 60, 62 for blowing a stream of gas, such as air or nitrogen, into the vacuum chamber adjacent to the window.

The present invention is direct to an edible composition in which fruit, vegetables and/or nuts, in conjunction with a hydrocolloid, are treated with pressure and/or heat to form an edible composition that is dimensionally stable, ambient stable for at least 12 months, has a moisture content greater than 50 wt. %, has a pH less than 4.5, has a water activity greater than 0.5, is commercially sterile, is free of artificial flavors, has a solids content greater than 10 wt. %, and does not exhibit syneresis. Also provided is a method for preparation of the edible composition.

The present invention is direct to an edible composition in which fruit, vegetables and/or nuts, in conjunction with a hydrocolloid, are treated with pressure and/or heat to form an edible composition that is dimensionally stable, ambient stable for at least 12 months, has a moisture content greater than 50 wt. %, has a pH less than 4.5, has a water activity greater than 0.5, is commercially sterile, is free of artificial flavors, has a solids content greater than 10 wt. %, and does not exhibit syneresis. Also provided is a method for preparation of the edible composition.