Hollow, puffed fruit products and methods of preparation
AssigneeGeneral Mills, Inc.
InventorsLeon Kraig, Mathew Langenfeld
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are simulated, puffed dried fruit pieces and methods for their preparation. The dried fruit pieces are useful for incorporation into ready-to-eat cereals of low water activity, e.g., A.sub.w of 0.1 to 0.3, such as puffed cereals. The dried fruit pieces are characterized by a low density ranging from 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc. due in part to a hollow center and thus do not settle during distribution and storage, and do not sink in milk. The dried fruit pieces are prepared by drying in prescribed manner pieces comprising encapsulated solutions containing hydrophilic colloids set with gelling agents.
Claims16
A method for preparing a dried, simulated hollow fruit product comprising in sequence the steps of:
- (A) contacting a solution with a bath to form encapsulated pieces, said solution comprising
- (1) about 40 to 70% moisture
- (2) about 1 to 6% sweeteners, and
- (3) about 0.5 to 2.0% hydrophilic colloid (wet basis) said bath containing a gel setting agent capable of causing the hydrophilic colloid to set up an encasement around said pieces;
- immediately thereafter,
- (B) first drying the pieces with forced convection drying with hot air at about 220.degree. to 280.degree. F. to a moisture content of less than about 20%, to form hollow cored pieces;
- and
- (C) finish drying the hollow cored fruit pieces to a moisture content of about 5 to 10% to form a hollow centered dried simulated fruit piece having a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc.
A puffed, simulated fruit product comprising fruit flavored pieces
- (1) wherein the pieces range from about 1 to 25 mm. in diameter,
- (2) wherein the pieces comprise a shell having an inner hollow core comprising from about 35 to 65% of the volume of the pieces,
- (3) wherein the pieces have a water activity of about 0.2 to 0.6,
- (4) wherein the pieces have a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc., and
- (5) wherein the pieces are comprised of a gel based on hydrophilic colloid set with a gelling agent.
A ready-to-eat puffed cereal containing simulated fruit pieces, comprising:
- (A) from about 99% to 50% by weight of the cereal of cereal pieces, said cereal pieces having
- (1) a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g/.cc., and
- (2) a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.5;
- and
- (B) about 1% to 50% by weight of the cereal of puffed, dried simulated fruit pieces,
- (1) wherein the fruit pieces range from about 4 to 12 mm. in diameter,
- (2) wherein the fruit pieces having an inner hollow core comprising from about 35 to 65% of the volume of the fruit pieces,
- (3) wherein the fruit pieces have a water activity of about 0.2 to 0.5,
- (4) wherein the fruit pieces have a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc.;
- and
- (5) wherein the fruit pieces are comprised of a gel based on hydrophilic colloid set with a gelling agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.