Method for producing aseptically-packaged puddings
AssigneeGeneral Foods Corporation
InventorsTheodore H. Joseph, Douglas M. Lehmann, Joyce P. St. John, Natale Butera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Utilizing a combination of a low starch level, a high lauric acid-containing fat and from 0.12 to 0.2% sodium-stearoyl-2-lactylate a pudding is formulated which has a low on-line viscosity after cooking and sterilization and when subject to refrigerator storage develops a desirably high viscosity and a preferred texture and mouthfeel as compared to high starch level puddings. The cooked and sterilized pudding formulation of this invention is cooled in non-swept-surface heat exchangers after the cooking and sterilization step.
Claims9
A process for preparing an aseptically-packaged, ready-to-eat, starch-containing pudding comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a pudding formulation comprised of milk solids, water, 3.5 to 10% of fat having a lauric acid content of at least 20%, sweetener, flavor and color agents, 2.5 to 4.2% of an essentially amylose-free, chemically-modified starch and from about 0.12 to 0.2% of an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of calcium- or sodium-stearyol 2-lactylate and sodium lauryl sulfate, wherein said formulation is essentially-free of hydrocolloid thickeners;
- (b) mixing and heating the said formulation at a temperature of from 125.degree. to 160.degree. F. in order to thoroughly melt and disperse the fat and the surfactant;
- (c) homogenizing the mix of step (b) while maintaining the temperature of the mix at from 125.degree. to 160.degree. F.;
- (d) subjecting the homogenized mixture to a high-temperature, short-time heating step at about 265.degree. to 305.degree. F. in order to both cook the starch and sterilize the mix;
- (e) initially cooling the cooked and sterilized pudding mix in one or more fixed plate or tube heat exchangers to a temperature of below about 130.degree. F.;
- thereafter,
- (f) further cooling the pudding mix to a temperature of from 60.degree. to 90.degree. F., said further cooling being effected in a fixed plate, tube or swept-surface heat exchanger;
- and then
- (g) aseptically-packaging the pudding mix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.