Method for continuous manufacture of process cheese-type products
AssigneeKraft General Foods, Inc.
InventorsThomas M. Hockenberry, Anthony J. Mack
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a continuous method for making a process cheese-type product. In the method, a flowing stream of a process cheese-type formulation which includes cheese particles and an emulsifying salt is provided. Steam is injected into the stream of the process cheese-type formulation. The stream of the process cheese-type formulation is then subjected to a mixing process in a chamber having an auger to provide a process cheese-type product. The stream of the process cheese-type product is then transported to a holding tank prior to packaging the process cheese-type product.
Claims11
A method for manufacture of a process cheese-type formulation comprising:
- (a) providing a flowing stream of a process cheese-type formulation;
- (b) injecting steam into said flowing stream;
- and
- (c) subjecting said flowing stream to a mixing process to uniformly distribute said injected steam throughout said flowing stream, said mixing being accomplished by passing said flowing stream upwardly through a vertically oriented mixing chamber having a plurality of mixing sections whereby said flowing stream passes through each mixing section, each of said sections having means for imparting forward movement and shear to said flowing stream, said mixing chamber being an auger type conveyor divided into at least two mixing sections by affixing at least one circular baffle plate to the shaft of said conveyor, the residence time distribution of said flowing stream through said auger conveyor being such that no more than about 5% of the process cheese-type formulation passes through the mixing chamber in less than about 0.25 of the mean residence time of the flowing stream in the mixing chamber and at least about 95% of the process cheese-type formulation passes through the mixing chamber within about two mean residence times of the flowing stream in the mixing chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.