The present invention relates to novel freeze-dried confection compositions, and methods for making the same. There is a long-felt need for nutritious snacks that are preserved for long periods without preservatives and having acceptable flavor. The freeze-dried confections of the present invention comprise are composed of freeze-dried raw fruits and vegetables and other natural ingredients with no preservatives, and prepared in such a way that they can be preserved at room temperature for many years.

The present invention relates to novel freeze-dried confection compositions, and methods for making the same. There is a long-felt need for nutritious snacks that are preserved for long periods without preservatives and having acceptable flavor. The freeze-dried confections of the present invention comprise are composed of freeze-dried raw fruits and vegetables and other natural ingredients with no preservatives, and prepared in such a way that they can be preserved at room temperature for many years.

The disclosure provides chips formed by slicing with an apple cell clean water jet scalpel and a processing technology. The processing technology comprises the following specific steps: harvesting fresh fruits, sorting, peeling, slicing, drying and packaging to obtain the apple crispy chip. According to the disclosure, the tangxin apple is peeled by adopting an ultrahigh pressure water jet flow cutting technology, cut into slices with a thickness of 5 mm and inoculated for 15 min in 30° C. and 30% Lactobacillus brevis fermentation broth. PPO is a terminal oxidase with Cu.sup.2+ as a prosthetic group, and Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus plantarum are complexed with Cu.sup.2+, leading to rapid oxygen consumption to generate organic acid and CO.sub.2, quickly reduction of pH and creation of an approximate oxygen-free environment to effectively inhibit PPO activity while removing oxygen required in enzymatic browning, thereby effectively inhibiting browning.

The disclosure provides chips formed by slicing with an apple cell clean water jet scalpel and a processing technology. The processing technology comprises the following specific steps: harvesting fresh fruits, sorting, peeling, slicing, drying and packaging to obtain the apple crispy chip. According to the disclosure, the tangxin apple is peeled by adopting an ultrahigh pressure water jet flow cutting technology, cut into slices with a thickness of 5 mm and inoculated for 15 min in 30° C. and 30% Lactobacillus brevis fermentation broth. PPO is a terminal oxidase with Cu.sup.2+ as a prosthetic group, and Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus plantarum are complexed with Cu.sup.2+, leading to rapid oxygen consumption to generate organic acid and CO.sub.2, quickly reduction of pH and creation of an approximate oxygen-free environment to effectively inhibit PPO activity while removing oxygen required in enzymatic browning, thereby effectively inhibiting browning.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alfa, processes for improving shelf-life and flavoring of fresh-cut/fresh vegetables, as well as food products produced by these processes. In accordance with the present disclosure, the processes generally include various new combinations of steps such as blanching, air drying, supercritical fluid processing with and without a processing aid, pressurization, de-pressurization, and packaging. The present disclosure further relates to methods of preparing edible food products that incorporate the processed fresh-cut vegetables, as well as the food products produced by these methods.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alfa, processes for improving shelf-life and flavoring of fresh-cut/fresh vegetables, as well as food products produced by these processes. In accordance with the present disclosure, the processes generally include various new combinations of steps such as blanching, air drying, supercritical fluid processing with and without a processing aid, pressurization, de-pressurization, and packaging. The present disclosure further relates to methods of preparing edible food products that incorporate the processed fresh-cut vegetables, as well as the food products produced by these methods.

A method of dehydrating and flavoring chili peppers by exposing them to the smoke from smoldering hardwoods. The smoking process occurs in a smoking vessel where the smoking temperature is in the range of 170° F. to 230° F. The smoking is maintained for a time period ranging from 15 to 20 hours. The smoked and dehydrated chilies are removed from the smoker and ground into a powder. Also disclosed is a specific spice mix derived from the smoked chilies produced by the method of the present invention.

A method of dehydrating and flavoring chili peppers by exposing them to the smoke from smoldering hardwoods. The smoking process occurs in a smoking vessel where the smoking temperature is in the range of 170° F. to 230° F. The smoking is maintained for a time period ranging from 15 to 20 hours. The smoked and dehydrated chilies are removed from the smoker and ground into a powder. Also disclosed is a specific spice mix derived from the smoked chilies produced by the method of the present invention.

Described are dried cranberries with reduced sugar content, while retaining a desired sweetness and texture, and methods of making such dried cranberries. Dried cranberries include erythritol and a sweetener that interferes with erythritol crystallization.

Described are dried cranberries with reduced sugar content, while retaining a desired sweetness and texture, and methods of making such dried cranberries. Dried cranberries include erythritol and a sweetener that interferes with erythritol crystallization.