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US 6,149,954 AGranted
Microwave thawing using micro-emulsions
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorMustapha Merabet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An edible water-in-oil micro-emulsion for thawing of a food product which is subjected to microwave energy and the use of such an edible water-in-oil micro-emulsion for thawing is described. Further described is a frozen food product comprising an edible water-in-oil micro-emulsion effective for enhancing thawing of the food product and to the process of providing such a frozen food product.
Claims22
An edible water-in-oil micro-emulsion for thawing a food product comprising:
- droplets of an oil having an average droplet size between 0.01 .mu.m to 0.5 .mu.m with the oil being present in an amount of at least 70% by weight of the micro-emulsion;
- and
- water present in an amount which will achieve a super cooled state when the temperature of the micro-emulsion reaches below 0.degree. C. but no greater than 10% by weight of the micro-emulsion;
- wherein, when the micro-emulsion is added to a food product, cooled to below 0.degree. C. and then subjected to microwave thawing, the super cooled water acts as a microwave energy absorber to facilitate thawing of the food product.
1 more element
A method of thawing a frozen food product comprising the steps of:
- forming a water-in-oil micro-emulsion comprising droplets of an oil having an average droplet size between 0.01 .mu.m to 0.5 .mu.m with the oil being present in an amount of at least 70% by weight of the micro-emulsion and water present in an amount which will achieve a super cooled state when the temperature of the micro-emulsion reaches below 0.degree. C. but no greater than 10% by weight of the micro-emulsion;
- distributing the micro-emulsion in or upon a food product in an amount sufficient to facilitate thawing of the food product during microwave heating;
- cooling the food product containing the micro-emulsion to a temperature sufficient to form a frozen food product;
- and
- subjecting the frozen food product to microwave radiation for a time sufficient to thaw the frozen food product, wherein the super cooled water of the micro-emulsion acts as a microwave energy absorber to facilitate thawing of the food product.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.