Maria D Zayas

US Patent:

62353365, May 22, 2001

Filed:

Sep 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/389124

Inventors:

Ahmad Akashe - Mundelein IL
Maria Teresa Zayas - Skokie IL

Assignee:

Kraft Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

International Classification:

A23L 132

US Classification:

426614

Abstract:

This disclosure relates to egg yolk compositions with improved functionality as well as methods of preparing such egg yolk compositions. Such egg yolk compositions confer improved functionality to the food products into which they are incorporated. The egg yolk compositions are prepared by a process comprising: (1) forming an aqueous egg yolk mixture; (2) adding an alkaline material to the aqueous egg yolk mixture in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the aqueous egg yolk mixture to about 7. 5 or above; (3) heating the pH-adjusted aqueous egg yolk mixture to about 40 to about 80. degree. C. for a period of about 30 minutes or longer; (4) cooling the heat treated aqueous egg yolk mixture to or close to ambient temperatures; and (5) added an acidic material to the cooled aqueous egg yolk mixture to adjust the cooled aqueous egg yolk mixture to a neutral pH, thereby forming the aqueous egg yolk composition; wherein the aqueous egg yolk composition can be used in food compositions to impart improved egg yolk functionality. The use of the compositions and methods of the disclosure lead to the use of less egg yolk, oil, and/or other ingredients in the food compositions described herein, thereby reducing the cost of producing large quantities of such food products. Such reductions in cost could be translated to the general public, and thereby serve the consumer.