Instant Porridge Composition With 0.3-1 mm Flakes for Fast Hydration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Instant porridges often have a pasty texture and require a longer soaking time when prepared with hot water or milk, lacking a nutritional profile and a shelf-life of at least 6 months.

Innovation Solution

An instant porridge composition comprising grain flakes with a thickness between 0.3 to 1 mm, combined with lipid, flour, and flavor, which allows for fast hydration and dispersibility within 4 minutes, maintaining a soft texture and providing a nutritional source of protein and fiber, while ensuring a shelf-life of at least 6 months.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If instant porridge is prepared with hot water or milk, then preparation time is reduced to 4-5 minutes, but the texture becomes pasty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreparation timeVSAvoidtexture
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the grain flake thickness to a specific range (0.3-1.0 mm) and controlling the size distribution of grain particles. This parameter optimization enables the porridge to hydrate quickly (4-5 minutes) while maintaining a non-pasty texture with visible flakes, resolving the contradiction between fast preparation and acceptable texture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If grain flake thickness is reduced for faster hydration, then hydration speed increases, but the porridge becomes completely pasty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydration speedVSAvoidtexture
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the grain flake thickness parameter within a specific range (0.3-1.0 mm) to achieve the desired balance. This parameter control allows the porridge to hydrate rapidly while maintaining visible flakes and a non-pasty texture, resolving the contradiction between hydration speed and texture quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating a size distribution where different grain particles have different thicknesses within the 0.3-1.0 mm range. This distribution ensures that some particles hydrate quickly while others maintain structural integrity, providing both fast hydration and acceptable texture with visible flakes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If cooking time is extended to 10-15 minutes, then required texture and taste are achieved, but preparation time is too long for instant porridge

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetextureVSAvoidpreparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the grains into flakes of optimized thickness (0.3-1.0 mm) before packaging. This pre-preparation enables the porridge to achieve acceptable texture and taste in just 4-5 minutes of hydration, eliminating the need for 10-15 minute cooking while maintaining quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Shape

If grain flake thickness is increased for better texture, then visible flakes are maintained, but hydration time exceeds 4 minutes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisible flakesVSAvoidsoaking time
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the grain flake thickness parameter within a specific range (0.3-1.0 mm) to achieve the desired balance. This parameter control allows the porridge to hydrate rapidly (4 minutes) while maintaining visible flakes and a non-pasty texture, resolving the contradiction between hydration speed and texture quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition achieves a proper hydration and swelling without becoming pasty within 4 minutes, offering a soft texture and nutritional benefits, along with a prolonged shelf-life.

Implementation Method 1

it should hydrate and swell properly without being completely pasty after 4 minutes by adding hot water or hot milk

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydration: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

it should hydrate and swell properly without being completely pasty after 4 minutes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSwelling: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250241343A1An instant porridge composition
Publication Date: 2025.07.31 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

AI summary

The present invention relates to an instant porridge composition comprising grain flake, lipid, flour and flavor, wherein the grain flake has a thickness between 0.3 to 1 mm.