A process for making an alcohol-containing frozen comestible substantially devoid of ice crystal agglomerations and/or ice crystal striations and/or trapped air and/or liquids is provided. The process includes substantially flash freezing an alcohol-containing liquid composition so as to produce a substantially single-phase solid alcohol-containing composition. The solid alcohol-containing composition, and/or pieces thereof, are then exposed to an environment having temperature of from about 15 C. to about 30 C. so as to soften the solid alcohol-containing compositions and/or meld the pieces thereof into a single mass. The temperature of the single mass is then reduced so as to harden the single mass. Also, a process for incorporating a frozen alcohol-containing liquid composition into a non-alcohol-containing fraction is provided. Alcohol-containing liquid compositions suitable for use in the process are also provided.

A process for making an alcohol-containing frozen comestible substantially devoid of ice crystal agglomerations and/or ice crystal striations and/or trapped air and/or liquids is provided. The process includes substantially flash freezing an alcohol-containing liquid composition so as to produce a substantially single-phase solid alcohol-containing composition. The solid alcohol-containing composition, and/or pieces thereof, are then exposed to an environment having temperature of from about 15 C. to about 30 C. so as to soften the solid alcohol-containing compositions and/or meld the pieces thereof into a single mass. The temperature of the single mass is then reduced so as to harden the single mass. Also, a process for incorporating a frozen alcohol-containing liquid composition into a non-alcohol-containing fraction is provided. Alcohol-containing liquid compositions suitable for use in the process are also provided.

A process for making an alcohol-containing frozen comestible substantially devoid of ice crystal agglomerations and/or ice crystal striations and/or trapped air and/or liquids and products thereof is provided. The process comprises rapidly solidifying an alcohol-containing liquid composition so as to produce a substantially single-phase solid alcohol-containing admixture. The single-phase solid alcohol-containing admixture, and/or pieces thereof, is then tempered by raising the temperature thereof so as to soften the single-phase solid alcohol-containing admixture and/or meld the pieces thereof into a single tempered mass. The single tempered mass is then re-hardened by reducing the temperature thereof. Also, a process for incorporating the single-phase solid frozen alcohol-containing admixture into a non-alcohol-containing composition is provided.

A dispensing apparatus (20; 300; 400) comprises: a freezing cylinder (40); a water flowpath (526); a first controllable valve (130) along the water flowpath; a syrup flowpath (528), merging with the water flowpath and proceeding as a water/syrup flowpath (552) to the freezing cylinder; and a second controllable valve (132) along the syrup flowpath. The first controllable valve and the second controllable valve each comprise: a valve body (144; 432) having a cartridge compartment (164,166), an inlet (176) to the cartridge compartment, and an outlet (178) from the cartridge compartment; and a valve cartridge (162). The valve cartridge comprises: a cartridge body (200) mounted in the cartridge compartment; a valve element (222) carried by the cartridge body and shiftable between a first condition permitting communication between the inlet and the outlet and a second condition blocking communication between the inlet and the outlet; and a solenoid (224) carried by the cartridge body and coupled to the valve element to drive movement of the valve element.

A dispensing apparatus (20; 300; 400) comprises: a freezing cylinder (40); a water flowpath (526); a first controllable valve (130) along the water flowpath; a syrup flowpath (528), merging with the water flowpath and proceeding as a water/syrup flowpath (552) to the freezing cylinder; and a second controllable valve (132) along the syrup flowpath. The first controllable valve and the second controllable valve each comprise: a valve body (144; 432) having a cartridge compartment (164,166), an inlet (176) to the cartridge compartment, and an outlet (178) from the cartridge compartment; and a valve cartridge (162). The valve cartridge comprises: a cartridge body (200) mounted in the cartridge compartment; a valve element (222) carried by the cartridge body and shiftable between a first condition permitting communication between the inlet and the outlet and a second condition blocking communication between the inlet and the outlet; and a solenoid (224) carried by the cartridge body and coupled to the valve element to drive movement of the valve element.

Described in preferred embodiments are dairy gluten free no sugar added coconut milk frozen desert compositions including a unique coconut milk, which have organoleptic qualities comparable to high fat frozen desserts such as ice cream. The compositions are composed of organic coconut milk comprising organic coconut solids and water, a sweetening agent and vegetable glycerin. Also described are dairy gluten free no sugar added flavors and inclusion compositions and methods for their production and incorporation into the dairy gluten free no sugar added coconut milk frozen desserts. Also provided are methods of making the frozen desert products.

Described in preferred embodiments are dairy gluten free no sugar added coconut milk frozen desert compositions including a unique coconut milk, which have organoleptic qualities comparable to high fat frozen desserts such as ice cream. The compositions are composed of organic coconut milk comprising organic coconut solids and water, a sweetening agent and vegetable glycerin. Also described are dairy gluten free no sugar added flavors and inclusion compositions and methods for their production and incorporation into the dairy gluten free no sugar added coconut milk frozen desserts. Also provided are methods of making the frozen desert products.

Systems and methods of producing a frozen food product include mixing ingredients with a liquefied gas, e.g. liquid nitrogen. The texture and quality of the food product may be determined by sensing temperature or viscosity, and controlling the rate at which the liquefied gas flows into the mixture, i.e. dosing. This functionality may be achieved using one or more scoops, the position of which may be controlled by actuators. The dosing may be controlled by a program that receives input from one or more sensors, and the program may be responsive to input of the type or amount of ingredients being mixed. In addition, the dosing may be controlled by a human being through a user interface, e.g. by pushing a dose button.

Systems and methods of producing a frozen food product include mixing ingredients with a liquefied gas, e.g. liquid nitrogen. The texture and quality of the food product may be determined by sensing temperature or viscosity, and controlling the rate at which the liquefied gas flows into the mixture, i.e. dosing. This functionality may be achieved using one or more scoops, the position of which may be controlled by actuators. The dosing may be controlled by a program that receives input from one or more sensors, and the program may be responsive to input of the type or amount of ingredients being mixed. In addition, the dosing may be controlled by a human being through a user interface, e.g. by pushing a dose button.

The invention relates to a method for producing an expanded food system, comprising a step of injecting, into an initial composition, a treatment gas comprising CO.sub.2 and N.sub.2O at a treatment pressure, characterized in that the treatment gas also comprises argon, and where the partial pressure of the CO.sub.2 in the mixture is preferably lower than or equal to 4 bar, and more preferably lower than or equal to 3 bar of CO.sub.2.