A method for producing alcoholic beverages from alkaline cooking, using as a basis the increase in pH in the medium to cook cacahuazintle corn grains, other similar mealy corn or any other grain, which offers a different proposal due to the generation of flavors, aromas and sensory characteristics that differentiate the products obtained by the methods herein disclosed from existing alcoholic beverages. A method for producing alcohol for human consumption and/or industrial use from the recovery and treatment of nejayote obtained from alkaline cooking residues, also known as nixtamalization of corn, applied to any alkaline cooking residue in the alimentary field.

A process for cooking rice, quinoa, couscous, pasta, beans, chick peas and other products which absorb water during the cooking process. The product is placed in sealed cooking bags along with a sufficient amount of liquid for absorption. The sealed bags are then conveyed through a continuous oven in which they are contacted with a superheated vapor cooking medium.

There is described an confectionery composition comprising edible particulate material comprising from 80% to 100% by weight based on total weight of the material of a processable, microbially released, flavour acceptable bran-like material, characterized by the following parameters: (i) mean particle size by volume (Vol. MPS) of from 5 to 100 microns; (ii) volume particle size distribution (Vol. PSD) characterized by the parameters: D90.3 less than or equal to 350 microns, and D50.3 less than or equal to 50 microns, and optionally D10.3 less than or equal to 15 microns, (iii) mean particle sphericity as measured by a Smean of greater than or equal to 0.75; (iv) where processable means has oil holding capacity (OHC) of from 0.7 to 1.5; (v) where microbially released means material has common microbes below given limits (preferably free of common microbes) (vi) where flavour acceptable denotes a lipase activity (LA) and a peroxidase activity (PA) both less than or equal to 2 U/g and optionally a low degree of roasted flavour notes as defined herein. The bran-like material used in the confectionery compositions may added as a bulk ingredient to replace sugar and/or to provide confectionery fillings and/or coatings having improved hiding ability when used as layers in multilayer confectionery products.

Water- and energy-saving systems and methods for producing lime-cooked masa are described. Such methods generally include adding water to maize kernel in a first predetermined proportion, the maize kernel having endosperm, germ, pericarp, and tip cap components. Using a first conditioner, the maize kernel is conditioned for a first predetermined amount of time to cause moisture absorption to within a first predetermined range. The maize kernel is limed. The maize kernel is cooked, using a cooker, in an environment of steam. After the maize kernel is cooked, water is added to the maize kernel in a second predetermined proportion and, using a second conditioner, the maize kernel is conditioned for a second predetermined amount of time to cause moisture absorption to within a second predetermined range. The maize kernel is milled using one or more mills.

There is described an edible particulate material comprising from 80% to 100% by weight based on total weight of the material of a processable, microbially released, flavour acceptable bran-like material, characterized by the following parameters: (i) mean particle size by volume (Vol. MPS) of from 5 to 100 microns; (ii) volume particle size distribution (Vol. PSD) characterized by the parameters: D.sub.90,3 less than or equal to 350 microns, and D.sub.50,3 less than or equal to 50 microns, and optionally D.sub.10,3 less than or equal to 15 microns, (iii) mean particle sphericity as measured by a S.sub.mean of greater than or equal to 0.75; (iv) where processable means has oil holding capacity (OHC) of from 0.7 to 1.5; (v) where microbially released means material has common microbes below given limits (preferably free of common microbes) (vi) where flavour acceptable denotes a lipase activity (LA) and a peroxidase activity (PA) both less than or equal to 2 U/g optionally a low degree of roasted flavour notes as defined herein. The bran as described may added to foodstuffs for example be used as a bulk ingredient to replace sugar and/or to provide filling and/or coatings having improved hiding ability when used as layers in multilayer foodstuffs.

The present invention relates to a frozen cooked rice including a molded cooked rice and a moisture transfer preventing layer formed on at least a part of the surface of the molded cooked rice, in which after the frozen cooked rice is defrosted under conditions of normal temperature and normal pressure for 1 day, the difference between the moisture content of the surface of the frozen cooked rice and the moisture content of a deep part of the frozen cooked rice is 5 wt% or more based on the total weight of the frozen cooked rice, and a method for preparing a frozen cooked rice, the method including forming a moisture transfer preventing layer on at least a part of the surface of a molded cooked rice, hardening the at least a part of the surface of the molded cooked rice on which the moisture transfer preventing layer is formed, and freezing the hardened molded cooked rice.

A process prepares heat treated cereal based food products enriched in certain flavours, and a heat treated cereal based food product is obtainable by this process. Additionally, a process generates a pre-reacted fraction, and a pre-reacted fraction is obtainable by this process. The pre-reacted fraction can be used to prepare heat treated cereal based food products.

A process used for the depth thermal treatment in maize for producing High Performance Integral Nixtamal, a process for treating maize under conditions different from known ones and by which a new product can be manufactured which has been called High Performance Integral Nixtamal.

A method of preparing a whole grain rice shredded product is provided. The method includes the steps of combining water and a whole grain rice component, the whole grain rice component comprising at least about 75% by weight rice, or up to about 100% by weight rice, cooking the whole grain rice component and water to form a cooked whole grain rice material, cooling the cooked whole grain rice material, tempering the cooked whole grain rice material for less than about 90 minutes to form a tempered whole grain rice material, and shredding the tempered whole grain rice material to form continuous net-like sheets of the whole grain rice shredded product.

The present invention is a ready to use food composition comprising a mixture of at least one roasted cereal, a protein source, an oil blend, a milk product, sugar, a polysaccharide, a vitamin premix, a mineral premix and an emulsifier. The present invention further discloses a ready to use food composition comprising a mixture of a roasted oilseed, a roasted cereal, a cereal powder, a protein source, an oil blend, a milk product, sugar, a polysaccharide, a vitamin premix, a mineral premix and an emulsifier. The present invention further discloses a ready to use food composition comprising a mixture of a roasted legume, a roasted cereal, a protein source, an oil blend, a milk product, sugar, a polysaccharide, a vitamin premix, a mineral premix and an emulsifier.