A coated food substrate including a food substrate with a vegetable coating comprising vegetables which must not be either potato or corn, where the vegetables are in comminuted form and preferably have a particle size in the range of about 50 to 500 μm and where the comminuted vegetables may be applied as a coating which optionally may also include vegetable pieces in the range of about 0.5 to 2 mm in the largest cross-section.

Provided is a method for producing a noodle-like fried vegetable food product which is effectively prevented from damage such as cracking and breaking in a packaging step in the process of production of the noodle-like fried vegetable or during transportation and which, when reconstituted with hot water, has the texture of the original vegetable and can be eaten like noodles; and such a noodle-like fried vegetable food product. A method for producing a noodle-like fried vegetable food product according to one embodiment comprises forming a noodle-like vegetable by cutting a vegetable into a noodle-like shape; providing an oil frying container provided with a retainer; placing the noodle-like vegetable in the retainer of the oil frying container to form a mass of the noodle-like vegetable; and frying the noodle-like vegetable mass placed in the retainer with oil. The method further comprises compressing the noodle-like vegetable mass in the middle of the frying of the noodle-like vegetable mass with oil or immediately after the frying with oil.

A packaged ready-to-eat snack food product containing a mixture of co-fried tuber substrates and vegetable substrates includes from about 5% to about 95% of the tuber substrates; and from about 5% to about 95% of the vegetable substrates; such that the mixture in the packaged product has a moisture content in the range of about 1.3% to about 4.5% or an oil content in the range of about 20% to about 50%. Methods of making the mixture include pre-treating the tuber substrates, pre-treating the vegetable substrates in a manner that differs from the pre-treatment of the tuber substrates, and co-frying the pre-treated tuber substrates with the pre-treated vegetable substrates together at the same time and under the same conditions.

There are provided methods of treating edible matter comprising applying a composition comprising performic acid to the edible matter or a substrate therefor. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A process for the application of a predetermined amount of oil to food pieces comprises: (a) providing or receiving a plurality of cut or shaped food pieces; (b) applying an oil-water emulsion to the food pieces for a time sufficient to provide a predetermined amount of oil to the food pieces and so that the food pieces have an initial moisture level after applying the oil-water emulsion; and (c) reducing the initial moisture level, in the absence of frying in oil, to a moisture level of from about 0.2 to about 80% by weight to provide a cooked food product, comprising said predetermined amount of oil, wherein step (c) does not comprises frying the food pieces in hot oil.

Provided herein are processes to ferment sweet potatoes and the dairy alternative food products produced thereof. Sweet potatoes and water are blended to obtain a smooth sweet potato mixture and then optionally strained. The mixture is optionally pasteurized and cooled to an incubation temperature to enable the addition of live cultures of fermentation microbes which create the characteristic aroma and sour tang of a fermented dairy product. The product is then subsequently refrigerated for storage. In other embodiments the process relies on wild type fermentation without the addition of commercially prepared or other prepared live microbes. Additives and foods can be incorporated during various stages of the processes.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a dried food from a fruit or vegetable, more particularly for producing potato flakes. The invention proposes the following method steps for providing a dried food pulp from a fruit or vegetable, more particularly potato flakes, having a low free starch content without the addition of emulsifiers or other additives: Treating the fruit by applying an electrical field; comminuting the treated fruit or vegetable to form a food pulp; and drying the food pulp. The present invention also relates to a dried food pulp, more particularly potato flakes, produced according to the method of the invention, and the use of such a dried food pulp.

The present disclosure features dried vegetable noodles having an increased shelf life and methods of making dehydrated vegetable noodles. The noodles are dry, shelf stable cut vegetable noodles (cut from whole produce, not extruded) and are lower in carbohydrate calories and higher in nutritional value than traditional grain-based noodles. The process results in a food safe, extended shelf stable singularized noodle that is nutritious, convenient and versatile.

There are provided methods of treating edible matter comprising applying a composition comprising performic acid to the edible matter or a substrate therefor. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Described herein is a concentrated sweet potato leaf protein in dried form, along with methods for producing it. The concentrated leaf protein has a protein content of greater than 21% by weight, and can have other beneficial components such as polyphenols. The concentrated leaf proteins are suitable for use in food and beverages, as protein supplementation, or as agents for gelling, foaming, and whipping.