Method of preparing a food intermediate under a controlled atmosphere

• Main Author: THORSON JAMES S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.02.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BAKERY PRODUCTS; BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; PRESERVATION THEREOF; TREATMENT, e.g. PRESERVATION, OF FLOUR OR DOUGH, e.g. BYADDITION OF MATERIALS

The invention provides a method of mixing dough that includes combining ingredients for the dough in a mixing system that is configured so that the atmosphere therein can be controlled, controlling the atmosphere wherein said controlled atmosphere has at least about 80% nitrogen, and mixing in the controlled atmosphere to form a resulting dough. Also included are methods having the steps of combining ingredients in a mixing system that is configured to be able to control the atmosphere, and having a gas feed supplied by a nitrogen tank, purging the atmosphere of air, controlling the atmosphere so that it includes at least about 90% nitrogen, and mixing the ingredients in the controlled atmosphere to form a resulting dough. The invention also provides improved methods of mixing dough that include combining ingredients for the dough in a mixing system that is configured so that its atmosphere can be controlled, controlling the atmosphere in the mixing system, and mixing the ingredients in the controlled atmosphere to form a resulting dough, wherein the dough or baked products thereof have improved characteristics.