A method for producing pregelatinized cereal flour according to the present invention includes: a pregelatinization step of heating a slurry containing 100 parts by mass of cereal flour and 500 parts by mass or more of water under a condition that the temperature of the slurry is 90° C. or more, to pregelatinize starch contained in the cereal flour; and a drying step of drying the slurry from the pregelatinization step to obtain a solid. In the pregelatinization step, the slurry is stirred while heating the slurry. In the pregelatinization step, the slurry is preferably heated under a condition that the temperature of the slurry is 100° C. or more. According to the present invention, there is provided pregelatinized starch that can improve the taste and texture of food and impart aging resistance to the food.

A flour made using an admixture composed of starch-containing grain, seed or fruit of a cereal grain or grain legume of low water content extruded in a single screw extruder at an ultra-high extrusion pressure producing an extruded functionally enhanced flour usable as an instantized flour by only adding water. When water is added, the flour forms a paste or dough that is three dimensionally formed or shaped into food products that can be cooked or baked in an oven into human or animal edible food products. The extruded functionally enhanced instantized flour also can be used as an ingredient in other edible food products. A preferred extruded functionally enhanced instant flour is extruded at ultra-high pressure from an admixture composed substantially completely of one or more cereal grains and/or legumes using only the moisture present in the cereal grains and/or legumes.

A method of thermally inhibiting starch or flour is provided. The method involves thermally or non-thermally dehydrating a grain to anhydrous or substantially anhydrous, and then heat treating this dehydrated grain. The heat treated dehydrated grain is then milled, producing thermally inhibited flour and/or starch. Using this method, the shelf life of the resulting thermally inhibited whole grain flour is extended compared whole grain flours that are thermally inhibited after milling.

A method for producing a meat-like food product comprises the steps of: mixing ingredients comprising tofu, water-soluble dietary fibers derived from grain, and gluten to prepare a dough; shaping the dough into a shaped product; and heating the shaped product.

The texture and flavor of bran and germ for the production of whole wheat flour and for the production of baked goods containing whole wheat flour is improved by treating bran and germ with water and an enzyme composition comprising xyanase, pentosanase, or mixtures thereof to hydrate the bran and germ and to enzymatically convert insoluble fiber of the bran and germ into soluble fiber and sugars. The enzymatic conversion is conducted so as to decrease the water holding capacity of the bran and germ and provides a bran and germ product having reduced grittiness and a reduced whole wheat flavor, while avoiding adverse effects on baking functionality. The enzymatic treatment with the xylanase and/or pentosanase may be initiated upon whole wheat berries or grains during tempering or it may be initiated upon a separated bran and germ fraction obtained after grinding or milling of whole wheat berries or grains.

A cereal flour composition is made by subjecting a mixture to a heating treatment, the mixture including: a cereal flour; and 0.2-10 parts by mass of an emulsifier with respect to 100 parts by mass of the cereal flour. Preferably, the emulsifier is a monoglycerol fatty acid ester or lecithin. Preferably, the heating treatment is performed for 2 seconds to 3 minutes at a mixture temperature of 80 to 120° C. Preferably, the heating treatment is a heat-moisture treatment using saturated water vapor. A process for producing the cereal flour composition involves a heating step of directly applying saturated water vapor to the mixture including a cereal flour and an emulsifier, and heating the mixture, wherein the heating step is performed by using a production device including: a transporting path that transports an introduced raw material to an outlet; and a mechanism that introduces saturated water vapor into the transporting path.

An apparatus and method are provided for the industrial manufacture of bakery products, such as long or elongated breads, rolls, baguettes, Parisian breads, round loaves. The apparatus includes a conveyor for conveying at least one piece of dough on a conveying surface in a transport direction, a substrate which is arranged above said conveyor. The substrate includes a contact surface at a side facing the conveyor. The apparatus is configured for providing a relative movement between the contact surface and the conveying surface. The contact surface is configured for touching an upper side of said at least one piece of dough on said conveying surface. And the apparatus further includes a heating device configured for heating at least a part of a circumference of the at least one piece of dough facing the contact surface for forming a film on said part of the circumference.

A white wheat flour is made from a combination of a first flour stream including at least a non-heat treated low ash and low bran flour stream, and a second flour stream including a heat-treated high ash and high bran flour stream. The white wheat flour preferably exhibits an extensibility in the range of 160-180 for use in making raw dough used in sheeted dough manufacturing systems. Importantly, the specified processing of the invention only results in a change in extensibility of less than 20%. The raw dough composition can be packaged and stored in a refrigerated condition for subsequent use in making biscuits, rolls, croissants or the like. By heating the second flour stream, enzymes in the second flour stream are deactivated, thereby increasing the stability and refrigerated shelf life of the packaged raw dough composition to at least 120 days. In certain embodiments, one or more enzymes are reintroduced into the second flour stream.

Embodiments herein relate to stabilized, whole-grain flour, food products including such stabilized, whole-grain flour, and methods of making stabilized, whole-grain flour and food products including the same. In an embodiment, a method of making a stable, whole grain flour is included. Whole grain wheat flour made using this method has shown exceptional biscuit and cracker making functionality producing high quality end products. The method can include tempering whole grain wheat and heating the tempered whole grain wheat at a temperature of about 120 degrees Celsius to about 160 degrees Celsius for about 5 to 20 minutes. The method can further include milling the whole grain to form a bran and germ fraction and a break flour fraction, fine milling the bran and germ fraction, and recombining the fine milled bran and germ fraction with the break flour fraction to produce a straight run flour. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A modified wheat flour may have good handlability in cooking and provide high-quality food products containing wheat flour. A viscosity of a 10 mass % aqueous suspension of such modified wheat flour is 1,000 mPa.Math.s or less when the aqueous suspension is warmed to 85° C. and then cooled to 25° C., and the dispersibility of the aqueous suspension is 90% or less when the aqueous suspension is warmed to 85° C., then cooled to 25° C., and subsequently allowed to stand for 24 hours.