Food stuffs are cooked at precise temperatures, which are optionally below 100° C., in a vessel that is evacuated to exclude air, in which low pressure steam replaces the air. When a sufficient quantity of air is excluded and replaced with water vapor, the temperature of vapor is accurately measured inside the vessel below the lid to control the temperatures within about 1° C. Air is preferably excluded via a controlled heated process for a relatively short period of time at high temperature to generate steam, the temperature is lowered to condense water vapor upon which the lid will sealingly engage the rim of the vessel, forming a partial vacuum in the cooking vessel.

Water- and energy-saving systems and methods for producing lime-cooked masa are described. Such methods generally include adding water to maize kernel in a first predetermined proportion, the maize kernel having endosperm, germ, pericarp, and tip cap components. Using a first conditioner, the maize kernel is conditioned for a first predetermined amount of time to cause moisture absorption to within a first predetermined range. The maize kernel is limed. The maize kernel is cooked, using a cooker, in an environment of steam. After the maize kernel is cooked, water is added to the maize kernel in a second predetermined proportion and, using a second conditioner, the maize kernel is conditioned for a second predetermined amount of time to cause moisture absorption to within a second predetermined range. The maize kernel is milled using one or more mills.

A method of reducing a concentration of formaldehyde in an aqueous solution containing formaldehyde, hydroxyacetaldehyde and other sugar carbonyls is provided. The method includes adding an amino acid to the aqueous solution and maintaining the aqueous solution at a temperature for a duration sufficient for the formaldehyde and the amino acid to react according to a Maillard reaction to produce a final concentration of formaldehyde and a final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde in the aqueous solution. The final concentration of formaldehyde is substantially lower than an initial concentration of formaldehyde and the final concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde is not substantially lower than an initial concentration of hydroxyacetaldehyde. An aqueous solution and a method of browning a foodstuff are also provided.

Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the cooking system being functional in a plurality of cooking modes. The cooking system includes a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to the hollow chamber. The cooking system includes a first lid configuration for use in at least a first cooking mode, a second lid configuration for use in at least a second cooking mode. A first lid detection sensor is configured to detect a closed condition of said first lid configuration and a second lid detection sensor is configured to detect a closed condition of said second lid configuration.

A method includes inserting a food item into an inner volume of a thermal container. A liquid circulating through a liquid jacket at least partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume of the thermal container is cooled such that thermal energy from the food item is transferred to the cooled liquid. After the cooling, thermal energy from a first heating element is transferred to the liquid circulating through the liquid jacket such that thermal energy from the heated liquid is transferred to the food item. Thermal energy from a second heating element is transferred to the food item in response to a criterion being satisfied. The second heating element is different from the first heating element and is disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container.

The present invention is directed to a food product prepared by soaking a predetermined quantity of chia seeds in liquid under a dark environment and under a temperature in a range of 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for a predetermined period to obtain pearls of chia seeds; and adding the pearls of chia seeds to a food product. The food product is bubble drink without tapioca starch.

A method for producing a cruciferous vegetable seasoning, the method including: at least an odor-reducing heat treatment and an odor-imparting heat treatment, wherein: the odor-reducing heat treatment includes heating a cruciferous vegetable so as to reduce an odor thereof; the odor-imparting heat treatment includes subjecting a liquid of the cruciferous vegetable to odor-imparting heating, thereby imparting a heated odor thereto; and the odor-imparting heat treatment is performed after the odor-reducing heat treatment.

The present disclosure provides a puree of palm and process of making the puree. The puree of palm has reduced sugar, low calorie, various nutrients, and favorable sensory characteristic. The puree can by itself serve as a food product or can also be used as a functional component for beverages and foodstuffs.

A method for producing rice with a low glycemic index and a low glycemic load includes, in sequence, preparing husked brown rice, humidifying the rice with water at room temperature until reaching a moisture content equal to 18-22%, resting the rice for 24-60 minutes, heating the rice to a temperature of 80-85° C., cooling the rice in an environment at a temperature lower than the room temperature until the rice reaches a temperature of 10° C., reconstituting the rice for 24-72 hours, maintaining the moisture content, until the rice reaches the room temperature, heating the rice again until the rice externally reaches a temperature of 60-65° C., corresponding to an internal temperature greater than 70° C., cooling the rice to reach the room temperature, refining the rice having a moisture content equal to 18-22% and drying until reaching a moisture content equal to 12-13%.

Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the system including a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to the hollow chamber. A food container having a hollow container interior is positionable within the hollow chamber. An end of the food container extends above the upper portion of the housing when the container is installed within the hollow chamber. A lid is moveably attached to the housing and is moveable between a first position that covers the upper portion of the housing and the opening to the hollow chamber when the food container is installed within the hollow chamber and a second position where the lid does not cover the opening to the hollow chamber. At least one heating element is associated with at least one of said lid and said housing.