Processes for encapsulating protein and products thereof
OwnerJerome Harden, Charles Onwulatainventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of encapsulating fully denatured or partially denatured protein (e.g., whey) involving milling the protein into a fine powder, pouring the powdered protein into a bowl containing an encapsulating agent (e.g., lipid), heating the combination until the encapsulating agent melts, and mixing the combination until the protein is completely covered/encapsulated. After the protein is covered/encapsulated, it is cooled so that it can be added as an ingredient to other foods.
Claims21
A process for making encapsulated protein, comprising milling fully denatured or partially denatured protein to form milled protein, mixing said milled protein with an encapsulating agent to form a mixture of milled protein and encapsulating agent, heating and mixing said mixture of milled protein and encapsulating agent to a temperature wherein said encapsulating agent melts to form melted encapsulating agent and said milled protein is encapsulated with said melted encapsulating agent to form encapsulated protein.
A process for manufacturing tortilla chips, said process comprising steeping corn to form steeped corn, removing the hull from said steeped corn to form hulled corn, milling said hulled corn to form milled corn, adding water to said milled corn to form a masa, introducing encapsulated protein into said masa, sheeting said masa to form sheeted masa, cutting said sheeted masa to form cut masa, baking said cut masa in an oven to form baked tortilla chip, and frying said baked tortilla chips.
A method of replacing a portion of flour or dough in a food product, said method comprising substituting an encapsulated protein for a portion of said flour or dough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.