The invention relates to minced meat analogue comprising the following components: (a) 30-80% by weight of the minced meat analogue of hydrated textured vegetable protein (TVP) pieces; (b) 20-45% by weight of the minced meat analogue of a binder emulsion containing the following ingredients: (b1) 8-50% by weight of the binder emulsion of liquid oil having a saturated fatty acid content of less than 30 wt. % (b2) 8-50% by weight of the binder emulsion of particles of solid fat having a saturated fatty acid content of more than 50 wt.; (b3) 25-70% by weight of the binder emulsion of water; wherein the combination of ingredients (b1), (b2) and (b3) constitutes at least 70 wt. % of the binder emulsion;
wherein the combination of components (a) to (b) constitutes at least 80 wt. % of the minced meat analogue.

The invention relates to a method for treating a food product by non-conventional resistive heating using. contact with spaced-apart electrically conductive electrodes connected to a power source that regulates current to the electrodes by pausing heating of the food product to a predetermined temperature. The electrodes are configured into two groups at a first distance from one another. Each electrode group has individual electrodes, similar to a comb-like set of needles, wherein neighboring needles of each group are at a second distance from one another that is greater than or equal to the first distance. Each set of needles penetrates the food product such that points of the needles leave penetration points, wherein the food product is accommodated in a space between two conveyor belts and the individual electrodes extend from at least one of the conveyor belts in the direction of the opposite conveyor belt.

A popcorn popper configured to cook popcorn includes a vessel and an electric heating element which heats the vessel. A vibration element vibrates the vessel and a controller controls the heating element and the vibration element. A temperature sensor is in communication with the controller such that the controller can receive temperature readings from the temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of the vessel. The controller activating the heating element to heat the vessel which contains the popcorn until the temperature sensor indicates that a first temperature has been reached. The controller, based on readings from the temperature sensor, maintains the vessel at a second temperature by controlling a power setting of the heating element and the controller activates the vibration element to vibrate the vessel which thereby vibrates the popcorn. The controller after maintaining the vessel at the second temperature, reduces the power of the heating element.

The present application relates to microwavable packaged frozen rice and a manufacturing method therefor, and applies a susceptor technique to packaged frozen rice so as to produce, through a cooking process using a microwave oven, the scorched texture of rice which could only be produced through pan cooking.

An automated kitchen assistant system inspects a food preparation area in the kitchen environment using a plurality of sensors or cameras. A trained model computes the identity and the location of the food item. In embodiments, the food items are on a grill, and the automated kitchen assistant system is operable to compute the time remaining to remove or flip each of the food items. The output may further be utilized to command a robotic arm, kitchen worker, or otherwise assist in food preparation. Related methods are also described.

A connected oven, including a set of in-cavity sensors and a processor configured to automatically identify foodstuff within the cooking cavity, based on the sensor measurements; and automatically operate the heating element based on the foodstuff identity.

Provided are roasted cacao beans with high total polyphenol content and reduced bitterness and the like, and a method for roasting raw cacao beans. Roasted cacao beans are obtained by roasting raw cacao beans in a state in which the pressure has been reduced below atmospheric pressure by heating for a prescribed period using microwaves so that the bean surface temperature reaches a temperature in the range of 50-90° C. The microwave heating time is preferably in the range of five to ten minutes.

A method for producing a reheatable food product includes mixing butter, maltodextrin and breadcrumbs so as to form a butter mixture, obtaining a first slice of bread and a second slice of bread, spreading the butter mixture onto a first surface of the first slice of bread and a first surface of the second slice of bread, applying 5 g to 70 g of a filling to the second surface of the first slice of bread, positioning the second slice of bread on the filling such that the second surface of the second slice of bread is adjacent thereto to form the food product, grilling the food product until the first surfaces are golden brown, and compressing the food product to a thickness of 0.56 inches to 0.75 inches while grilling, freezing the food product to a frozen state, reheating the food product.

A drip pan assembly includes an drip pan and a duct body attached to a lower surface of the drip pan. An upper surface of the drip pan at least partially defines a containment area where food drippings are collected/deposited. A bounded air channel extends along a lower surface of the drip pan for directing a flow of convective air along the lower surface.

The invention relates to a method and a device for continuously processing foodstuffs with pulsed electric fields, comprising a conveyor belt that is guided in a housing. The conveyor belt guide encompasses the longitudinal edges of the conveyor belt respectively in a recess that is arranged e.g. within the side walls of the housing and is preferably formed by the housing floor and the lateral insulator panels mounted at a distance from the housing floor on the inner side of the side walls or are formed as a groove within the lateral insulator panels. The upper strand of the conveyor belt is guided through the guides above the housing floor within the housing.