Process of preparing water-soluble whippable extract from microorganism protein material

A process for the isolation of a whippable protein fraction from microbial cells, consisting of the steps of:

• a. providing an aqueous slurry containing from 1 to 20 wt. % (dry basis) microbial cells;
• b. heating the slurry to a temperature within the range from about 30.degree. to about 35.degree. C.;
• c. separating the heated slurry into a solid phase comprising residual cell material and a liquid supernatant phase comprising pigment and color ingredients;
• d. reslurrying the residual cell material by adding water;
• e. heating the reslurried residual cell material at temperatures of about 80.degree. to 100.degree. C. for a time period of about 45 to 75 minutes.
• f. separating the heated slurry into a solid phase comprising residual cell material and an aqueous supernatant phase comprising a water-soluble protein fraction;
• g. recovering the water-soluble protein fraction;
• and
• h. drying the water-soluble protein fraction to produce a product having light color, high foam expansion and stability, bland taste and heat stability.