Back to results
US 6,555,147 B1Granted
Methods for making popcorn kernels with improved flake production
AssigneeNovozymes Biotech, Inc.
InventorFeng Xu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods for making enzyme-treated unpopped popcorn kernels, comprising: (a) contacting the popcorn kernels with an aqueous solution comprising an effective amount of one or more hull wall-degrading enzymes for a period of time sufficient to weaken the hull wall of the kernels; and (b) recovering the enzyme-treated popcorn kernels. The present invention also relates to popcorn kernels obtained by the methods of the present invention.
Claims19
A method for making enzyme-treated unpopped popcorn kernels, comprising:
- (a) contacting popcorn kernels separated from a corn cob with an aqueous solution comprising an effective amount of one or more hull wall-degrading enzymes selected from the group consisting of a pectin-degrading enzyme, cellulose-degrading enzyme, hemicellulose-degrading enzyme, and proteolytic enzyme, for a period of time sufficient to weaken the hull wall of the kernels, wherein the enzyme treatment increases the yield of popped flakes from a given weight of enzyme-treated popcorn kernels compared to untreated popcorn kernels;
- and
- (b) recovering the enzyme-treated popcorn kernels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.