Instant roux

Abstract

This invention relates to an instant roux comprising co-processed modified starch and flour and fat. In addition, the invention relates to the process for providing such “ready-for-use” compositions and the improved food products prepared from the co-processed compositions.

Description

[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part (“CIP”) of U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,015 issued 17 Aug. 2004, which is a CIP of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 809,968 filed 16 Mar. 2001, now abandoned.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] This invention relates to a thickener or thickening composition that includes a “co-processed” combination of modified starch, flour and fat for use in foods. In addition, the invention relates to the process for providing such “ready-for-use” compositions and the improved food products prepared from the co-processed compositions. More particularly, the present invention is directed toward a thickening composition useful as an instant roux. [0004] 2. Background Information [0005] A roux is known in the art as a mixture of equal amounts of flour and fat for use as a thickening agent in a soup or sauce. Traditionally, roux is prepared by melting fat, e.g., butter, in a pan and carefully adding flour while blending the two components. Cooking the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] The instant roux of the invention can be used in sauces, spreads, toppings, soups, fillings and gravies, including their dehydrated preparations that are hydrated by the consumer immediately prior to use. Thus, the instant roux of the present can be used as for thickening sauces and other liquid / semi-liquid foodstuffs upon the addition of a hot liquid, e.g., hot water, fond brun such as brown veal stock, milk, etc. The instant roux of the present invention can be easily dispersed in hot liquid without substantial lump formation, and has desirable organoleptic properties.

[0024] Optionally, other hydrocolloids such as pregelatinized or cold water swelling starches and / or modified starches can be added to enhance functionality of the roux, such as mouthfeel. Other functional additives may also be used, including emulsifiers such as lecithin, flavors such as butter flavor, colorants and proteins such as whey or casein or its salts. Other additives for enhancing the opacity of the roux, e.g., titanium dioxide, can be added.

[0025] The resultant roux compositions may advantageously be used as “ready-for-use” or instant roux having superior properties to roux prepared with flour and fat. The foods prepared from these roux have improved appearance, taste, process tolerance, emulsification, cold and hot temperature stability and instant viscosity properties compared to industry standard roux prepared from a combination of flour and fat.

Problems solved by technology

Cooking the flour in fat causes the flour granules to break.

Still, these thickeners are not suitable for large-scale commercial production.

Also, the products cannot be further processed for use in dried foodstuffs.

The use of starches, both unmodified and modified, in thickening agents presents long recognized problems, particularly for professionals in the food service industry.

However, the use of a precooked, unmodified starch often imparts an undesirable stringiness to the texture of the food.

While the addition of a modified starch can confer a satisfactory texture to cold or precooked foods, these foods do not provide the desirable taste and appearance of foods prepared from thickeners containing modified starches that have been precooked with flour.

Further, in the food service industry it is often necessary to maintain foods at high temperatures over relatively long periods of time.

However, under these conditions an unmodified starch thickener is often unable to maintain a desirable viscosity.

Moreover, after cooking and cooling foods containing an unmodified starch thickener, there is often an undesirable separation of fat or absorbed water from a previously homogeneous mix or emulsion.

In addition, undesirable weeping and syneresis may occur, particularly after cold storage or freezing and thawing.

While thickeners employing modified starches do not possess these process tolerance limitations inherent to unmodified starches and / or flours, thickeners prepared from modified starches do not have the desirable cooked flour taste and appearance of thickeners prepared from unmodified starches and / or flours.