Treatment of bulb vegetables such as garlic, onions and the like to free them from the so-called day-after effect

• US 5,391,390 A
• Filed: 10/16/1992
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Franca Leo
• Original Assignee: Franca Leo
• Inventors: Leo, Franca
• Primary Examiner(s): Czaja, Donald E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERRER, CURTIS EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US07/962,970
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 426/456, 426/638, 426/640, 426/384, 426/385, 426/431
• US Class Current: 426/638
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/02 Dehydrating; Subsequent reconstitution dried cooked potatoes A23L19/12
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/024 Freeze-drying , i.e. cryodessication or lyophilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 19/01 Instant products; Powders; Flakes; Granules A23L19/10 – A23L19/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 27/105 obtained from liliaceae, e.g. onions, garlic
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/20 Removal of unwanted matter, e.g. deodorisation or detoxification

Abstract

Garlic, onion or like bulb vegetables are whisked in an appropriate quantity of water to obtain an intermediate product having the consistency of a very fluid cream which is subsequently subjected to freeze drying. The product obtained, ground to a powder, subsequently reconstituted with pre-selected comestible liquids, has been found to possess the properties of the starting bulbs but did not have the offensive day-after effect.

Claims

1. A treatment for strong-smelling bulb vegetables to free them from the so-called "day after effect" comprising the successive steps of:

forming a suspension of the bulbs in water in a bulb/water ratio in the range 1/2 to 1/5 by weight, wherein said suspension is obtained by whisking the bulb vegetables in water; and

freeze drying said suspension with a preliminary freezing phase of the suspension down to -50°

C. for 4 to 8 hours followed by a gradual heating phase for 12 to 24 hours to a temperature not exceeding 50°

C. to obtain a powder from said bulbs having a relative moisture content of between 1 and 3%.

2. A treatment according to claim 1, wherein said aqueous suspension further includes basil.

3. The treatment of claim 1, wherein said suspension is obtained by whisking the bulb vegetables in water at ambient temperature.

4. The treatment of claim 1, wherein said suspension is obtained by whisking the bulb vegetables in water at cold temperature.