A system for providing cooked food includes at least one container that stores an uncooked food product for dispensing of an aliquot of the uncooked food product; a source of milk; a source of steam; a mixing chamber configured to receive the milk and steam to increase the temperature of the milk and to dispense heated milk so that the heated milk contacts the dispensed aliquot of uncooked food product to cook the food product.

Systems and methods for producing sprouted popcorn kernels are provided, which can be popped into sprouted popped popcorn having unique organoleptic qualities. In an embodiment, a system incorporates a germination unit having one or more sensors to track the germination progress of unsprouted popcorn kernels and to automatically transition sprouted popcorn kernels to a drying process to provide dried sprouted popcorn kernels suitable for popping as a ready to eat product or for packaging for consumer popping preparation. The system promotes the preparation of commercial scale sprouted popcorn kernels through tracking of moisture content of the popcorn kernels through one or more processes of sprouted popcorn kernel production.

Smokers can enclose smoking subjects for production of trapped smoke with limited airflow. Optimal airflow rates and resulting smoking effects can be achieved through smokers. If a smoker has approximately 60 cubic inches volume, four 2-millimeter holes at an air inlet point achieves desired airflow and oxygen consumption in typical fills and cooking temperatures. Smokers may include a lid or other seal or access point to permit placement and enclosure of smoking materials. Smokers are useable with conventional grills and may be shaped to sit on grill racks without blocking desired airflow by grill components or smoking materials. Smokers may include a detachable handle for safer handling and heating.

A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles are composed of, comprise or consist of a material which is magnetic and/or electroconductive; b. heating the particles in the bed to form a cooking medium in the form of a heated bed of particles, wherein in step b the particles are heated at least partially by electromagnetic induction; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated particles transfer heat into the elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.

A method of cooking a snack food, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a bed comprising a plurality of particles; b. heating and moving the particles in the bed to form a mobile cooking medium in the form of a heated, mobile bed of particles; c. providing a plurality of snack food precursor elements in the cooking medium thereby to cook the snack food precursor elements to form a plurality of cooked snack food pieces, wherein the heated, mobile particles transfer heat into the snack food precursor elements by thermal conduction; and d. separating the plurality of snack food pieces and the cooking medium.

Smokers can enclose smoking subjects for production of trapped smoke with limited airflow. Optimal airflow rates and resulting smoking effects can be achieved through smokers. If a smoker has approximately 60 cubic inches volume, four 2-millimeter holes at an air inlet point achieves desired airflow and oxygen consumption in typical fills and cooking temperatures. Smokers may include a lid or other seal or access point to permit placement and enclosure of smoking materials. Smokers are useable with conventional grills and may be shaped to sit on grill racks without blocking desired airflow by grill components or smoking materials. Smokers may include a detachable handle for safer handling and heating.

This invention concerns reduction of moisture loss during the processing of meat. The present invention resides in the finding that pre-treatment of fresh meat with compositions comprising acetic acid salts and certain polysaccharide materials can reduce moisture losswith as much as 15%, as compared to non-treated meat. In some embodiments, the compositions are based on ingredients that can be labeled as natural ingredients. The invention provides compositions comprising such combinations of one or more acetic acid salts with one or more polysaccharide materials; methods and uses involving the treatment of meat with said compositions; as well as the meat products that are accordingly obtained.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a heat-treated vegetable-based food product which comprises contacting with asparaginase at high temperature and subsequent drying.

A process for cooking grains in a bag having an air and moisture barrier is provided. The process includes filling a portion of the bag with a type of grain, such as rice, adding brine to the bag and leaving a headspace of air in the bag to enable the grain to expand as it is being cooked. The process further includes sealing the bag and placing the bag in a cooking device. The grain can be cooked in the bag by submerging the bag in hot water. The grain can also be cooked in a cabinet having various heat sources, a rotary drum or a continuous cooking device. The grain cooked by this process comes out loose and fluffy, and is not congealed. The process can be used for rice, oats and other grains.

The disclosed method describes a process for creating brined peanuts that have improved crunch and flavor characteristics compared with conventional peanuts. The nuts are soaked in a brine solution comprising at least 10% salt by weight and water for 6-16 hours. In some embodiments, the brine solution includes other heat tolerant flavors, such as cayenne pepper, hot sauce and capsicum extract. The nuts are drained for at least one hour to a moisture level of 21-24% water by weight. The nuts are then oil roasted at 305 F. for 11 minutes via a technique that fully enrobes the nuts in hot oil, such as a full submersion fry.