Breadcrumbs have a grain size distribution in which the proportion of a fraction of breadcrumbs that have a grain size 2.36 mm is 8-21 mass % and the proportion of a fraction of breadcrumbs that have a grain size 1.18 mm is 45 mass %, and have a bulk density of 270-600 ml/100 g. A breadcrumb powder shaker container includes: the breadcrumbs or breadcrumb mix; and a shaker container containing a breadcrumb powder to be shaken out including the breadcrumbs or the breadcrumb mix, the shaker container having a shake-out hole. The shake-out hole has a maximum diametric length of 10-55 mm. This enables simply applying the breadcrumbs or the breadcrumb mix directly to a food material, enabling a high-quality cooked breadcrumb-coated food item, while retaining the flavor of the food material to a high level irrespective of the amount of oil used in deep frying.

A coating material for fried food contains a wheat flour in an amount of 50-95 mass % and a modified starch in an amount of 5-50 mass %, the modified starch having been subjected to an oxidation treatment or an acid treatment and having an RVA maximum viscosity of 1,000 mPa.Math.s or less. A heat-treated wheat flour may be used as the wheat flour. The coating material for fried food may further contain a leavening agent in an amount of 0.1-3 mass %, and may further contain an emulsifier in an amount of 2 mass % or less. It is possible to produce a fried food whose coating has a crispy and light texture not only immediately after the fried food is produced but also after a certain period of time from when the fried food is produced, or after the fried food is reheated in a microwave oven or the like.

A coating material for fried food contains a wheat flour in an amount of 50-95 mass % and a modified starch in an amount of 5-50 mass %, the modified starch having been subjected to an oxidation treatment or an acid treatment and having an RVA maximum viscosity of 1,000 mPa.Math.s or less. A heat-treated wheat flour may be used as the wheat flour. The coating material for fried food may further contain a leavening agent in an amount of 0.1-3 mass %, and may further contain an emulsifier in an amount of 2 mass % or less. It is possible to produce a fried food whose coating has a crispy and light texture not only immediately after the fried food is produced but also after a certain period of time from when the fried food is produced, or after the fried food is reheated in a microwave oven or the like.

Compositions and methods for preparing a multi-texture, non-baked foodstuff having a first component with a first soluble solids ratio; and a second component with a second soluble solids ratio, wherein the second component is a non-baked foodstuff having at least 1% weight fraction of particulate matter having a particle size of about at least 100 m, including at least one setting agent and at least one texture-modifying particulate ingredient and having a gel strength of about at least 100 and a liquid weight fraction of about at least 35%.

Compositions and methods for preparing a multi-texture, non-baked foodstuff having a first component with a first soluble solids ratio; and a second component with a second soluble solids ratio, wherein the second component is a non-baked foodstuff having at least 1% weight fraction of particulate matter having a particle size of about at least 100 m, including at least one setting agent and at least one texture-modifying particulate ingredient and having a gel strength of about at least 100 and a liquid weight fraction of about at least 35%.

A method for producing a modified starchy powder of the present invention includes a step of adding 0.2 to 5 parts by mass of a monovalent or divalent metal salt, in terms of the mass of metal ions, to 100 parts by mass of a starchy powder to obtain a mixture, and a heating step of heating the mixture so that the temperature of the starchy powder is in a range of 70? C. to 130? C. Preferably, the method includes a step of adjusting the moisture content of the mixture to 12 to 22 mass % prior to the heating step. According to the present invention, it is possible to produce fried coated food in which a coating has excellent adhesion to a solid ingredient and also has excellent flavor and texture.

A method for producing a modified starchy powder of the present invention includes a step of adding 0.2 to 5 parts by mass of a monovalent or divalent metal salt, in terms of the mass of metal ions, to 100 parts by mass of a starchy powder to obtain a mixture, and a heating step of heating the mixture so that the temperature of the starchy powder is in a range of 70? C. to 130? C. Preferably, the method includes a step of adjusting the moisture content of the mixture to 12 to 22 mass % prior to the heating step. According to the present invention, it is possible to produce fried coated food in which a coating has excellent adhesion to a solid ingredient and also has excellent flavor and texture.

The present invention relates to methods for processing foodstuff wherein, after exposure of said processed foodstuff to microwaves, a crispy, crunchy or crusty foodstuff is obtained. The present invention further relates to granulates which can be used in the present methods and crispy, crunchy or crusty foodstuff obtainable by the present methods. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods for processing foodstuff comprising the steps of a) providing a foodstuff; b) coating the foodstuff with a dry powder or granulate being comprised of 5 wt % to 50 wt % dextrin; c) exposing the granulate coated foodstuff to water, or water vapour during 0.1 to 10 seconds; and d) baking, frying or boiling the water, or water vapour, exposed foodstuff.

The present invention relates to methods for processing foodstuff wherein, after exposure of said processed foodstuff to microwaves, a crispy, crunchy or crusty foodstuff is obtained. The present invention further relates to granulates which can be used in the present methods and crispy, crunchy or crusty foodstuff obtainable by the present methods. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods for processing foodstuff comprising the steps of a) providing a foodstuff; b) coating the foodstuff with a dry powder or granulate being comprised of 5 wt % to 50 wt % dextrin; c) exposing the granulate coated foodstuff to water, or water vapour during 0.1 to 10 seconds; and d) baking, frying or boiling the water, or water vapour, exposed foodstuff.

Provided is a powdery breader including a starch at a proportion of 75% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less, in which the powdery breader includes, as the starch, a lowered molecular weight starch having an amylose content of 5% by mass or more and a peak molecular weight of 310.sup.3 or more and 510.sup.4 or less, at a proportion of 3% by mass or more and 45% by mass or less with respect to the total amount of the powdery breader, in which a content of oversized particles retained on a sieve with openings of 0.1 mm in the powdery breader is 20% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less, and in which the powdery breader is used for one or two or more deep-fried (-like) food products selected from the group consisting of hot showcase storage, room temperature storage, chilled storage, frozen storage, and microwave cooking.