Shelf-stable low-fat biologically fermented dairy product
First Claim
1. A process for producing a shelf-stable cultured low-fat dairy product comprising:
- a first pasteurization step by heating a low-fat dairy base;
biologically fermenting said dairy base;
mixing in a starch stabilizer;
heating the mixture to a syneresis temperature high enough to promote syneresis and low enough to avoid both pasteurization and setting of the mixture;
maintaining the syneresis temperature until appreciable syneresis is accomplished, said syneresis temperature being within the approximate range of 100°
to 150°
F.;
thereafter homogenizing the mixture to restructure same into a uniform, flowable, preset product;
flowing the preset product in preparation for a canning step;
accomplishing a second pasteurization step at a temperature of approximately 170°
to 200°
F., said secnd pasteurization step also serving to initiate setting of the present product; and
permitting final setting of the flowable present product in a container to produce a cultured low-fat dairy product that has a room temperature shelf stability of at least 6 months.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Shelf-stable low-fat cultured dairy products, prepared through fermentation, have essentially natural characteristics in plain and flavored varieties, which characteristics are retained over an extended period of time, without refrigeration. A low-fat dairy culture composition is sterilized and cooled; a food starch is blended therein; the blended product then undergoes a syneresis step at a temperature within the approximate range of 100° to 150°F., which temperature is below the pasteurization temperature of such blended product and below the temperature at which the food starch will set; after the syneresis step, the product is homogenized; the homogenized product is adjusted, if necessary, to a pH of 4.5 or less, filled into containers and sealed therein; and the containerized product is pasteurized.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A process for producing a shelf-stable cultured low-fat dairy product comprising:
- a first pasteurization step by heating a low-fat dairy base;
biologically fermenting said dairy base;
mixing in a starch stabilizer;
heating the mixture to a syneresis temperature high enough to promote syneresis and low enough to avoid both pasteurization and setting of the mixture;
maintaining the syneresis temperature until appreciable syneresis is accomplished, said syneresis temperature being within the approximate range of 100°
to 150°
F.;
thereafter homogenizing the mixture to restructure same into a uniform, flowable, preset product;
flowing the preset product in preparation for a canning step;
accomplishing a second pasteurization step at a temperature of approximately 170°
to 200°
F., said secnd pasteurization step also serving to initiate setting of the present product; and
permitting final setting of the flowable present product in a container to produce a cultured low-fat dairy product that has a room temperature shelf stability of at least 6 months. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a first pasteurization step by heating a low-fat dairy base;
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8. The process of cliam 6, wherein the edible starch is mixed in as a fluid slurry containing approximately 11/2 parts by weight of fluid for each one part by weight of edible starch.
Specification