Processing method for enhancing flavor of pet food

Abstract

A processing method for enhancing the flavor of pet food, the method comprising the following steps: forming a flavor-enhancing material by means of manufacturing a flavor-enhancing raw material, bringing the flavor-enhancing material into contact with the surface of a pet food raw material to form a flavor-enhancing layer coating the surface of the pet food raw material, and curing and setting the flavor-enhancing layer on the surface of the pet food raw material.

Description

Pet food flavor enhancement processing method Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of pet food processing, and in particular to a method for processing pet food flavor enhancement. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, more and more people have been keeping pets, and the increase in people's disposable income has helped them increase their spending on pet food, pet supplies, and pet services. The trend of pet-friendly pets will further encourage owners to buy better products for their pets, such as the most basic staple food, pet snacks, and pet health products.

[0003] With the development of the pet economy, pet owners and their pets have increasingly high expectations for the quality and taste of pet food. Pet owners are paying more attention to the nutrition and taste of pet food, and the taste of pet food directly affects their pets' appetite and health. Traditional pet food processing relies on the flavor of the raw materials themselves or by adding flavor powders. Some are compressed by mixing multiple raw materials. However, these pet foods often have a single taste and fail to meet the needs of some pets, especially picky eaters. If the pets do not like the pet food they buy, it will result in waste. Moreover, the interaction between owners and pets during the feeding process is not strong. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop a flavoring processing method that can improve the taste of pet food and increase the enjoyment of pet owners. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a pet food flavoring processing method, which can significantly improve the taste and flavor of pet food, better meet the taste needs of pets, and involve the owner in the preparation of pet food, thereby increasing the fun of pet raising.

[0005] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method for enhancing the flavor of pet food. The method can stimulate the pet's sense of smell and taste by attaching a flavoring layer to the surface of the pet food, making the pet food more attractive, thereby increasing the pet's appetite, especially having a positive effect on pets that are picky eaters or have poor appetite.

[0006] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method for processing pet food flavor enhancement, which can increase the nutritional content of the pet food by adding a flavor enhancement layer to the outside of the pet food.

[0007] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a pet food flavoring processing method. In the pet food produced by the pet food flavoring processing method, the flavoring layer can be designed with multiple flavors according to the taste preferences of different pets, such as meat flavor, fish flavor, vegetable flavor, etc., to meet the personalized needs of different pets.

[0008] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a pet food flavoring processing method. In the pet food produced by the pet food flavoring processing method, the addition of the flavoring layer not only increases the flavor, but also improves the taste of the pet food, making it crispy or soft, and can be adjusted according to the preferences of different pets.

[0009] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method for processing pet food flavor enhancement, wherein the pet owner adjusts the ingredients of the flavor enhancement layer based on the pet's feedback, thereby finding the taste that his pet likes, increasing the pet owner's satisfaction, cultivating the pet owner's sense of responsibility and love, and enhancing the relationship between the pet and the owner.

[0010] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method for processing pet food flavor enhancement, and the processing equipment provided is suitable for use at home or in a pet management center.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for enhancing the flavor of pet food is provided, comprising the following steps:

[0012] (a) A flavoring material is brought into contact with the surface of a pet food raw material to form a flavoring layer covering the surface of the pet food raw material.

[0013] According to one embodiment, before step (a), the flavoring material is manufactured from a flavoring raw material, and the flavoring material is liquid, slurry, solid or gas.

[0014] According to one embodiment, in step (a), the flavoring raw materials are selected from meat, vegetables, fruits or dairy products.

[0015] According to one embodiment, in the step (a), the flavoring raw material is formed by beating with water, squeezing juice with water, or cutting and grinding.

[0016] According to one embodiment, in the step (a), the surface of the pet food raw material is coated to form the flavoring layer by at least one of spraying, soaking, brushing, vibration and liquid stirring.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the steps are further included:

[0018] The flavor enhancement layer is solidified and formed on the surface of the pet food raw material.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the flavoring layer is matured and shaped on the surface of the pet food raw material by drying.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the flavor enhancement layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 5.0 mm.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the surface of the pet food raw material is evenly coated with the flavor enhancing layer.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the steps of preparing the flavoring material, coating the flavoring layer, and curing the flavoring layer are automatically completed in a pet food flavoring processing device.

[0023] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from an understanding of the following description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG1 is a cross-sectional view of a pet food raw material in a pet food flavoring processing method according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG2 is a cross-sectional view of a pet food processed food according to a pet food flavoring processing method according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG3 is a block diagram of a pet food flavoring method according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following description is intended to disclose the present invention so that those skilled in the art can implement the present invention. The preferred embodiments described below are for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other obvious variations. The basic principles of the present invention defined in the following description may be applied to other embodiments, variations, improvements, equivalents, and other technical solutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0028] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure of the present invention, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above terms should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0029] It is to be understood that the term "one" should be understood as "at least one" or "one or more", that is, in one embodiment, the number of an element may be one, while in another embodiment, the number of the elements may be multiple, and the term "one" should not be understood as a limitation on the quantity.

[0030] Referring to Figures 1 to 3 , a pet food flavoring method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. The method is used by pet owners to prepare processed pet food 1. The processed pet food 1 has a better taste and flavor, better meeting the pet's taste needs, and can stimulate the pet's sense of smell and taste, thereby increasing the pet's appetite. This is particularly beneficial for picky eaters or pets with poor appetites. Furthermore, the pet owner participates in the preparation of the processed pet food 1, adjusting the flavor of the processed pet food 1 based on the pet's feedback. This enriches the pet's diet while increasing the pet owner's enjoyment and sense of accomplishment, further strengthening the relationship between the pet and the owner.

[0031] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pet food according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a method for enhancing the flavor of pet food. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a processed pet food 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the processed pet food 1 includes a pet food ingredient 10 and a flavoring layer 20. The flavoring layer 20 is attached to the exterior of the pet food ingredient 10. Preferably, the flavoring layer 20 is evenly coated around the exterior of the pet food ingredient 10.

[0032] In particular, in the embodiments of the present application, the material of the pet food raw material 10 is not limited to this application. The pet food raw material 10 can be implemented as traditional cat food or dog food available on the market. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that pets may have different preferences for different materials of the pet food raw material 10 based on their species and individual pets. Therefore, pet owners can select appropriate pet food raw materials 10 to prepare the processed pet food 1.

[0033] Depending on the preparation process, pet food raw materials 10 can be puffed, baked, air-dried, or freeze-dried. Puffed food is made by grinding the raw materials into a powder and then extruding them into a high-temperature puffing process in an extruder. Fresh meat is not added during this process, but meat powder and starch are typically added to facilitate shaping. Finally, oil and other nutrients are sprayed on the food to ensure the pet's nutritional needs.

[0034] To bake grains, the raw materials are first crushed, then pressed into shape at low temperature and low pressure, and then slowly baked. The baking process is not affected by high temperature, starch is generally not added, and the nutrients of the raw materials are basically not lost.

[0035] Air-dried food is made by simulating the natural environment and air-drying the food. The raw materials are sliced ​​and then air-dried at a certain temperature. It is basically made from fresh meat and the temperature is not too high, so the nutrients in the ingredients themselves will basically not be lost. Generally, air-dried food is made from fresh meat by air-drying to increase its palatability.

[0036] Freeze-dried food is made by freezing raw materials and drying them in a vacuum. Freeze-drying generally involves three main processes: pre-freezing, sublimation drying, and desorption drying. While sublimation and desorption drying are performed under vacuum conditions, freeze-drying is performed at low temperatures and in a high vacuum. This makes it particularly suitable for heat-sensitive substances such as proteins, aromatic amino acids that contribute to the natural flavor of meat, and vitamins, preventing them from denaturing or losing their biological activity. This protects easily oxidized substances, preserving the color, aroma, flavor, and nutritional value of fresh food.

[0037] The raw materials of the pet food ingredients 10 may include, but are not limited to, pet food produced by brands such as Royal Canin, Purina, Pedigree, Pro Plan, Birchwood, McFadden, Aspire, Whiskas, and Soligo. The forms of the pet food ingredients 10 include, but are not limited to, flakes, blocks, strips, and balls, and their shapes include, but are not limited to, round, square, triangular, hexagonal, and plum blossom shapes.

[0038] In particular, in the embodiment of the present application, in order to solve the problem that traditional pet food often cannot meet the needs of some pets in terms of taste, the pet food processed food 1 in the embodiment of the present application adopts an optimized processing method suitable for pet owners or managers of pet management centers to prepare pet food with enhanced taste, rich taste and nutrition based on the pet food raw materials 10.

[0039] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a method for flavoring pet food according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the method comprises: preparing a flavoring material; contacting the flavoring material with the surface of pet food raw material 10 to form a flavoring layer 20; and curing the flavoring layer 20 to adhere to the surface of the pet food, thereby obtaining processed pet food 1.

[0040] In the steps of preparing the flavoring material, more specifically, the flavoring layer 20 is formed by forming a flavoring material on the surface of the pet food raw material 10 and then curing the material. The flavoring material can be implemented as a liquid, slurry, solid or gas.

[0041] In the process of preparing the flavoring material, the method of preparing the flavoring material includes but is not limited to forming the flavoring material by crushing the flavoring raw material and adding water to pulp; forming the flavoring material by crushing the flavoring raw material and adding water to squeeze out the juice; forming the flavoring material by cutting and grinding the flavoring raw material to make it into powder or forming the flavoring material by collecting the smell of the flavoring raw material, for example, when the flavoring raw material is meat, forming the flavoring material by collecting the meat aroma.

[0042] The flavoring ingredients may include, but are not limited to, meat, vegetables, fruits, or dairy products. Preferably, tendons in meat or stems and roots in vegetables are removed to facilitate pulping. In one possible implementation, the meat is cleaned and cut into small pieces. The meat is then minced using a meat grinder configured in the processing equipment of the present invention. After adding an appropriate amount of water, the meat is stirred evenly using a stirring device until a meat pulp is formed.

[0043] It is understood that meat includes, but is not limited to, pork, beef, lamb, chicken, duck, goose, fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, etc. Vegetables include, but are not limited to, pumpkin, potato, sweet potato, etc. Leafy greens can be blended into juice and added to the meat paste to enhance flavor. Fruits include, but are not limited to, apples, oranges, bananas, etc. Dairy products include, but are not limited to, milk powder, milk, cheese, and condensed milk.

[0044] Based on this, the pet food flavoring method can increase the nutritional content of the processed pet food 1, such as protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins, by adding the flavoring layer 20 to the pet food raw material 10. Furthermore, the addition of the flavoring layer 20 not only enhances the flavor but also improves the texture of the processed pet food 1, making it crispier or softer, which can be adjusted to suit the preferences of different pets.

[0045] It is worth mentioning that when the material of the flavoring raw material is meat, the viscosity of the flavoring material formed by crushing and pulping with water is relatively high, which is conducive to the coating of the flavoring material on the surface of the pet food raw material 10, so that the flavoring material can be evenly wrapped on the outside of the pet food raw material 10. When the material of the flavoring raw material is vegetables, the viscosity of the flavoring material formed by crushing and pulping is relatively low. In the process of preparing the flavoring material and the pet food raw material 10, food-grade gelatin, starch, lecithin or a combination thereof can also be added to help viscosity. This increases the viscosity of the flavoring material, which is conducive to the even wrapping of the flavoring material on the outside of the pet food raw material 10. In addition, the viscosity of the flavoring material can also be increased by mixing the flavoring raw materials of meat and vegetables.

[0046] Next, the flavoring material is used to form the flavoring layer 20 on the surface of the pet food. Here, the flavoring layer 20 may be formed by, but is not limited to, spraying, soaking, brushing, stirring, vibrating, or rolling.

[0047] For example, in one possible implementation, the flavoring layer 20 can be applied to the pet food raw material 10 by immersion. Specifically, the pet food raw material 10 is placed in a hollow mold, and the pet food raw material 10 and the hollow mold are immersed in a container containing the flavoring material. After immersion for a predetermined period of time, the pet food raw material 10 and the hollow mold are removed. At this point, the flavoring material is evenly coated on the outside of the pet food raw material 10. Finally, the excess flavoring material is collected and returned to the container, completing the step of applying the flavoring material to the surface of the pet food raw material 10 to form the flavoring layer 20. The immersion coating method is applicable to pet food raw materials 10 of various shapes. For example, for bone-shaped pet food raw materials 10 suitable for pet dogs, the flavoring layer 20 can be evenly applied to the pet food raw material 10 by immersion. When the flavoring material is a liquid or slurry, the flavoring layer 20 can be applied to the pet food raw material 10 by immersion.

[0048] For example, in another possible implementation, the flavoring layer 20 can be applied to the pet food raw materials 10 by spraying. Specifically, the pet food raw materials 10 are neatly arranged in the positioning holes of a positioning mold, the flavoring material is poured into a spray gun, and the flavoring material is evenly sprayed onto the outer surface of the pet food raw materials 10 using the spray gun to form the flavoring layer 20. It is worth noting that the flavoring layer 20 can be applied to the pet food raw materials 10 by spraying when the flavoring material is in the form of a gas, liquid, or slurry.

[0049] In another possible implementation, the flavoring layer 20 can be applied to the pet food ingredients 10 by brushing. Specifically, the pet food ingredients 10 are neatly arranged in the positioning holes of a positioning mold, and the flavoring material is evenly applied to the outer surface of the pet food ingredients 10 using a brush to form the flavoring layer 20. When the flavoring material is a liquid or slurry, the flavoring layer 20 can be applied to the pet food ingredients 10 by brushing. Both spraying and brushing are applicable to pet food ingredients 10 of various shapes, such as round, square, or elongated.

[0050] For example, in another possible implementation, the flavoring layer 20 can be applied to the pet food raw material 10 by rolling. Specifically, the pet food raw material 10 is placed in a rolling device, and the flavoring material is uniformly poured into the rolling device. The rolling device then rolls the flavoring material onto the outer surface of the pet food raw material 10, forming the flavoring layer 20. This rolling coating method is highly automated and convenient for pet owners. When the flavoring material is a solid, liquid, or slurry, the flavoring layer 20 can be applied to the pet food raw material 10 by rolling.

[0051] In addition, in the above step, the flavoring layer 20 is dried and solidified so that it adheres to the surface of the pet food raw material 10, thereby obtaining a processed pet food 1. Here, the drying and solidification treatment can be carried out in an oven or other device to further mature and firmly fix the flavoring layer 20 on the surface of the pet food raw material 10. In this regard, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the drying and solidification treatment method of the flavoring layer 20 is not a limitation of the present invention.

[0052] In this embodiment, the drying and curing process for the flavor-enhancing layer 20 is performed at a temperature of 50°C to 80°C for 10 to 30 minutes. This ensures that the flavor-enhancing layer 20 is evenly bonded to the exterior of the pet food 10. By selecting the appropriate temperature and time for the drying and curing process, the loss of nutrients and moisture in the processed pet food 1 is avoided, ensuring that the processed pet food 1 has the best flavor and improving the texture, making it crispier or more tender.

[0053] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the thickness of the flavoring layer 20 is preferably between 0.1 and 5 mm. The appropriately sized flavoring layer 20 ensures that the overall dimensions of the processed pet food 1 meet practical requirements. This ensures an appropriate ratio between the flavoring layer 20 and the pet food ingredients 10, thereby ensuring a balanced nutritional intake for the pet. Furthermore, the appropriate thickness of the flavoring layer 20 helps control production costs, satisfying the pet's taste needs without adding unnecessary costs due to excessive flavoring.

[0054] In summary, the processed pet food 1 produced using the pet food flavoring method has a better taste and flavor than conventional pet food raw materials 10, better meeting the taste needs of pets and stimulating their sense of smell and taste, thereby increasing their appetite. This is particularly beneficial for picky eaters or those with poor appetites. Furthermore, by adding the flavoring layer 20 to the pet food raw materials 10, the nutritional content of the processed pet food 1 can be increased, making it healthier for pets.

[0055] Accordingly, according to one embodiment, the present invention provides a pet food flavoring processing device for pet owners to coat the purchased pet food raw materials 10 with a new flavor layer according to their pet's preferences, comprising a mincing device, a hollow mold, a soaking device, and a curing device, wherein the mincing device minces meat or vegetables and adds water to form the slurry-like flavoring material, the hollow mold is used to accommodate the pet food raw materials 10, the soaking device is used to coat the pet food raw materials 10 in the hollow mold with the flavoring material, and the curing device can dry and solidify the flavoring material coated on the pet food raw materials 10 to finally form the pet food processed food 1.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a pet food flavoring processing device for pet owners to coat the purchased pet food raw materials 10 with a new flavor layer according to their pet's preferences. The device includes a mincing device, a positioning device, a spray gun, and a curing device. The mincing device minces meat or vegetables and adds water to form a slurry of the flavoring material. The positioning device is used to accommodate and position the pet food raw materials 10. The spray gun is used to spray the pet food raw materials 10 in the positioning mold with the flavoring material. The curing device can dry and solidify the flavoring material coated on the pet food raw materials 10 to ultimately form the pet food processed food 1.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a pet food flavoring processing device for pet owners to coat the purchased pet food raw materials 10 with a new flavor layer according to their pet's preferences. The device includes a mincing device, a positioning device, a brushing device, and a curing device. The mincing device minces meat or vegetables and adds water to form the slurry-like flavoring material. The positioning device is used to accommodate and position the pet food raw materials 10. The brushing device is used to brush the pet food raw materials 10 in the positioning mold with the flavoring material. The curing device can dry and solidify the flavoring material coated on the pet food raw materials 10 to ultimately form the pet food processed food 1.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a pet food flavoring processing device for pet owners to coat the purchased pet food raw materials 10 with a new flavor layer according to their pet's preferences, including a mincing device, a rolling stirring device, and a curing device, wherein the mincing device minces meat or vegetables and adds water to form the slurry-like flavoring material. The rolling stirring device is used to accommodate the pet food raw materials 10, and when the flavoring material is added to the rolling stirring device, the rolling stirring device drives the pet food raw materials 10 to roll in its inner cavity so that the pet food raw materials 10 are evenly coated with the flavoring material. The curing device can dry and solidify the flavoring material coated on the pet food raw materials 10 to finally form the pet food processed food 1.

[0059] It is understandable that the pet food flavoring processing equipment in the above embodiments can form a set of kits or be integrated into the same machine. In this way, the pet owner only needs to select the appropriate ingredients, and the subsequent processing process can be completed automatically by the machine, which is convenient for the pet owner's operation.

[0060] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended to limit the present invention. The objectives of the present invention have been fully and effectively achieved. The functional and structural principles of the present invention have been demonstrated and illustrated in the embodiments. Any variations or modifications may be made to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the principles described.

Claims

1. A method for flavor enhancing processing of pet food, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: (a) Contacting the surface of pet food raw materials with a flavoring material to form a flavoring layer on the surface of the pet food raw materials by coating.

2. The pet food flavoring processing method according to claim 1, wherein before the step (a), the flavoring material is manufactured from a flavoring raw material, and the flavoring material is a liquid, a paste, a solid or a gas.

3. The pet food flavoring processing method according to claim 2, wherein in the step (a), the selected materials of the flavoring raw material are meat, vegetables, fruits or dairy products.

4. The pet food flavoring processing method according to claim 3, wherein in the step (a), the flavoring raw material is formed into the flavoring material by pulping with water, juicing with water or cutting and grinding.

5. The pet food flavoring processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the step (a), the surface of the pet food raw materials is coated to form the flavoring layer by at least one of spraying, soaking, brushing, vibrating and hydraulic stirring.

6. The pet food flavoring processing method according to claim 5 further includes the step of: (b) Curing and shaping the flavoring layer on the surface of the pet food raw materials.

7. The pet food flavoring processing method according to claim 6, wherein the flavoring layer is cured and shaped on the surface of the pet food raw materials by drying.

8. The pet food flavoring processing method according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the flavoring layer is 0.1 to 5.0 millimeters.

9. The pet food flavoring processing method according to claim 5, wherein the surface of the pet food raw materials is evenly coated with the flavoring layer.

10. The pet food flavoring processing method according to claim 6, wherein the preparation step of the flavoring material, the coating of the flavoring layer and the curing and shaping of the flavoring layer are automatically completed in a pet food flavoring processing device.

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