A method of making a porous, crunchy, dehydrated, vegetable, meat or seafood snack product. A piece of vegetable, such as potato, sweet potato, carrot, beet or parsnip, or a piece of meat or seafood, is frozen, forming ice crystals within the piece of food. The frozen piece is exposed to microwave radiation in a microwave-vacuum dehydrator at a vacuum pressure at which the boiling point of water is above 0 C., causing the frozen piece to thaw and water to evaporate from the thawed piece. The evaporation leaves pores that were formed by the ice crystals within the piece of food, resulting in a porous, crunchy, dehydrated snack product.

Provided are methods of preserving and/or storing Synsepalum dulcificum berry, which may involve separating a pulp of the berry into two or more parts; and freeze drying the berry with the separated pulp.

Provided are methods of preserving and/or storing Synsepalum dulcificum berry, which may involve separating a pulp of the berry into two or more parts; and freeze drying the berry with the separated pulp.

Compositions wherein foodstuffs act as carriers of freeze-dried probiotics provide new means for administration of probiotics. The products that are easily shipped may be eaten as purchased or mixed with other ingredients to provide variety in the diet while administering beneficial probiotic organisms to the gastrointestinal tract.

Compositions wherein foodstuffs act as carriers of freeze-dried probiotics provide new means for administration of probiotics. The products that are easily shipped may be eaten as purchased or mixed with other ingredients to provide variety in the diet while administering beneficial probiotic organisms to the gastrointestinal tract.

A novel method for freeze-related separations, involving the combination of water with a selected concentration of biogenic ice nucleation proteins, freezing the combination, and separating the ice, potentially via centrifugation or sublimation. In some instances, the freezing conditions and the concentration of the at least one biogenic ice nucleation protein are selected such that the aqueous solution, upon freezing, forms a lamellar ice crystal structure having at least one property selected from the group consisting of a solute inclusion volume at least 30% smaller than in the first material alone, a hydraulic diameter at least 30% larger than in the first material alone, an inclusion width that is less than 10% of a crystal dimension, a hydraulic diameter that is less more than 1.5 times that of an inclusion width, a deviation of crystal orientation angle in the transverse direction of less than 45 degrees, an ice crystal length in the transverse direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone, and a length of the ice crystal structure in the longitudinal direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone. The use of these structures result in a significant efficiency improvement and energy savings.

A novel method for freeze-related separations, involving the combination of water with a selected concentration of biogenic ice nucleation proteins, freezing the combination, and separating the ice, potentially via centrifugation or sublimation. In some instances, the freezing conditions and the concentration of the at least one biogenic ice nucleation protein are selected such that the aqueous solution, upon freezing, forms a lamellar ice crystal structure having at least one property selected from the group consisting of a solute inclusion volume at least 30% smaller than in the first material alone, a hydraulic diameter at least 30% larger than in the first material alone, an inclusion width that is less than 10% of a crystal dimension, a hydraulic diameter that is less more than 1.5 times that of an inclusion width, a deviation of crystal orientation angle in the transverse direction of less than 45 degrees, an ice crystal length in the transverse direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone, and a length of the ice crystal structure in the longitudinal direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone. The use of these structures result in a significant efficiency improvement and energy savings.

An example of an apparatus to process food material is provided. The apparatus include a transportation platform to be moved from a first location to a second location. The apparatus further includes a sanitization unit mounted at an end of the transportation platform. The sanitization unit is to receive food material, wherein the sanitization unit is to remove contaminants from the food material to provide sanitized food. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a food processor to process the sanitized food. In addition, the apparatus includes a freeze drying system to dehydrate the sanitized food to provide a dry food product.

An example of an apparatus to process food material is provided. The apparatus include a transportation platform to be moved from a first location to a second location. The apparatus further includes a sanitization unit mounted at an end of the transportation platform. The sanitization unit is to receive food material, wherein the sanitization unit is to remove contaminants from the food material to provide sanitized food. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a food processor to process the sanitized food. In addition, the apparatus includes a freeze drying system to dehydrate the sanitized food to provide a dry food product.

Vigna angularis var. angularis according to the present invention is capable of increasing muscle mass and enhancing muscular function or exercise performance through an effect of promoting mRNA or protein expression and the activity of a gene involved in muscle functions, muscle mass increase of differentiation of muscle cells; can prevent, treat or ameliorate a decline in exercise performance, a decline in muscle function, muscle loss, etc. caused by various diseases; and may be effectively used for medicines or food products, etc., since it has no side effects in the body as natural substance.