The present invention provides an oil-or-fat processed starch that has exceptional performance when used as a raw ingredient of a coating for fried foods, etc. The oil-or-fat processed starch is characterized in that the amount of carbohydrates having a degree of polymerization of 1-3 in the sugar composition of a water-soluble fraction of an aqueous suspension is 3-20 mass %. A coating for fried foods according to the present invention is characterized by containing the aforementioned oil-or-fat processed starch. A method for producing a coating for fried foods according to the present invention is characterized in that the aforementioned oil-or-fat processed starch is added as a raw ingredient of a coating for fried foods. Moreover, a method for producing fried foods according to the present invention is characterized in that the aforementioned coating for fried foods is bonded to a main ingredient and then subjected to an oil-heating treatment.

Provided is an air fryer that includes an inner cooking chamber located within a cooking chamber. The inner cooking chamber has a first opening and a second opening spaced apart from the first opening across the inner cooking chamber. The inner cooking chamber is partly delimited by a second wall extending between the first opening and the second opening. A duct is defined by a space between the first wall and the second wall. The duct provides a fluid connection between the first opening and the second opening. The air fryer also includes a heater for heating the inner cooking chamber, and a fan. The fan receives air from axial directions and moves the air radially. The fan is axially movable relative to the inner cooking chamber such that the air fryer is switchable between a first configuration and a second configuration, and vice versa.

An apparatus and method for continuously at atmospheric pressure rotary steam fry potato slices, the apparatus comprising an inlet conveyer for taking the slices from a lower atmospherically opened inlet into a rotary conveyor with steam permeable mantle surface for tumbling and conveying potato slices inside a hermetically closed top through a pre heat zone and a frying zone until gravity fed out through an atmospherically opened outlet below the hermetically closed top, an oiler for totally covering the slices with oil before entering the frying zone, a loop heating system consisting of at least one separator, one gas blower and one heat exchanger adapted for pushing superheated stem, with temperature of 110 to 300 C, through the conveyor with steam permeable mantle surface and through a deep bed of potato slices, heating the oil on the potato slices surface which in tum heats the potato slices.

A cooking apparatus has a cooking chamber, a microwave unit to radiate microwaves to the cooking chamber, a convection unit to supply hot air to the cooking chamber, a grill unit to supply radiant heat to the cooking chamber, an input unit to receive a cooking command and a control unit to perform a cooking corresponding to the received cooking command by performing one of a first heating stage and a second heating stage, and after performing the one of the first heating stage and the second heating stage, performing the other one of the first heating stage and the second heating stage. In the first heating stage, the control unit operates the microwave unit and at least one of the convection unit and the grill unit, and in the second heating stage, the control unit operates the grill unit and the convection unit while not operating the microwave unit.

A cooking apparatus has a cooking chamber, a microwave unit to radiate microwaves to the cooking chamber, a convection unit to supply hot air to the cooking chamber, a grill unit to supply radiant heat to the cooking chamber, an input unit to receive a cooking command and a control unit to perform a cooking corresponding to the received cooking command by performing one of a first heating stage and a second heating stage, and after performing the one of the first heating stage and the second heating stage, performing the other one of the first heating stage and the second heating stage. In the first heating stage, the control unit operates the microwave unit and at least one of the convection unit and the grill unit, and in the second heating stage, the control unit operates the grill unit and the convection unit while not operating the microwave unit.

Embodiments include systems and methods for heating materials, including heating materials for cooking and soldering. A representative system and method for cooking food includes passing electric current through the food, sensing a characteristic of the food, and modulating the electric current in response to the characteristic of the food to achieve a selected internal temperature of the food. The system and method can include searing the food with hot oil or photons directed at the surface of the food. A representative system and method for heating a material includes modulating a plurality of semiconductor light sources to emit photons toward the material, measuring a temperature of the material, and modulating the plurality of semiconductor light sources in response to the temperature of the material. The material can include solder and the method can include heating solder in a reflow soldering process.

A plant protein-based whole-cut fried chicken nugget is prepared from raw materials including peanut protein, wheat protein, seasonings, water-retaining agent, and coating flour in proportions measured in parts by weight. The preparation method of the plant protein-based whole-cut fried chicken nugget includes mixing the raw materials uniformly according to the proportions, subjecting to high-moisture extrusion treatment, boiling the resulted extrudate with water for an appropriate period, then coating with flour, placing in a frying pan at an appropriate temperature, and frying for an appropriate period. The plant protein-based whole-cut fried chicken nugget has a golden surface, a strong aroma, a crispy outside and tender inside, good elasticity and chewiness, no beany taste, high protein content, and rich nutrition.

Embodiments include systems and methods for heating materials, including heating materials for cooking and soldering. A representative system and method for cooking food includes passing electric current through the food, sensing a characteristic of the food, and modulating the electric current in response to the characteristic of the food to achieve a selected internal temperature of the food. The system and method can include searing the food with hot oil or photons directed at the surface of the food. A representative system and method for heating a material includes modulating a plurality of semiconductor light sources to emit photons toward the material, measuring a temperature of the material, and modulating the plurality of semiconductor light sources in response to the temperature of the material. The material can include solder and the method can include heating solder in a reflow soldering process.

Embodiments include systems and methods for heating materials, including heating materials for cooking and soldering. A representative system and method for cooking food includes passing electric current through the food, sensing a characteristic of the food, and modulating the electric current in response to the characteristic of the food to achieve a selected internal temperature of the food. The system and method can include searing the food with hot oil or photons directed at the surface of the food. A representative system and method for heating a material includes modulating a plurality of semiconductor light sources to emit photons toward the material, measuring a temperature of the material, and modulating the plurality of semiconductor light sources in response to the temperature of the material. The material can include solder and the method can include heating solder in a reflow soldering process.

The present specification provides fruit and vegetable products. Also described are methods for producing the fruit and vegetable products.