Apparatus for preparing parbaked food products, such as pizza crust shells, and dough formulation used therein, and the product produced thereby and/or therefrom. The apparatus operates on a starting material dough including flour, sugar and water, and preferably also a leavening agent such as instant yeast. The dough is rounded, first proofed, panned, pressed and second proofed in the apparatus. The prepared dough piece is then steam hydrated in the apparatus under conditions sufficient to cause moisture absorption and a resultant increase in moisture content throughout the dough. Then the hydrated dough piece is immediately sequentially parbaked until gelatinization of the starch is complete. At least one parbaking condition of the apparatus is adjusted as selected from the group consisting of initial dough temperature, oven temperature, parbaking time, dough absorption and dough thickness and coordinated with the moisture content condition of the dough upon completion of the steam hydration for thereby delaying external browning of the dough until the starch gelatinization is complete, and for thereby discontinuing the parbaking before substantial caramelization of the sugar in the crust takes place.

Pizza crust and process and apparatus for making same

A folded pastry product and method for making the product are disclosed herein. The product incorporates a layered dough and fat pastry shape having a first end and a second end, a first flanged portion adjacent the first end and a second flanged portion adjacent the second end, each of the flanged portions including at least a pair of flanges and a narrowed area having side edges for holding the filling product. The flanges are overlapped to provide a recessed and sealed area for holding the filling product. The general shape of the pastry allows for efficient cutting from the pastry sheet and allowing for a minimum of wasted dough product. A method is also disclosed wherein a layered dough pastry shell is formed by cutting a shape from a sheet of layered dough, applying a filling to the shape, folding flanges of the dough shape in an overlapping fashion, indenting the flanges to clear a sealing area of filling before being sealed with a crimper. The filling may be baked along with the resulting pastry shell to provide a visible section of filling and to allow efficient baking thereof.

Folded pastry product

A microwavable pizza product and a package combination is disclosed herein. The package combination includes a pizza crust having a semi-circular shape and a pizza topping is deposited on top of the crust. The topped pizza crust is packaged with a microwave susceptor member under the bottom of the crust, and a support member under the susceptor member. A plastic film encloses the pizza product, susceptor member and support member, and the entire package is enclosed in a carton.

Microwavable semi-circular pizza product and packaging combination

Conventional food compositions for use in making baked goods and extruded food products are improved by reducing the carbohydrate content. This is done by substituting the conventional flour in whole or in part by a combination of starch that is resistant to amylase digestion and/or from about 1-150 baker’s percent of a first proteinaceous ingredient comprising at least about 70% by weight protein, and a second proteinaceous ingredient selected from the group consisting of (i) between about 0.5 -100 baker’s percent of a wheat protein isolate product; (ii), between about 0.5-100 baker’s percent of a wheat protein concentrate product; (iii) between about 0.5-100 baker’s percent of a devitalized wheat gluten product; (iv) between about 0.5-20 baker’s percent of a fractionated wheat protein product; (v) between about 0.5-20 baker’s of a deamidated wheat gluten product; (vi) between about 0.5-30 baker’s percent of a hydrolyzed wheat protein product; and (vii) any combination of ingredients (i) to (vi).

Composition and method for making high-protein and low-carbohydrate food products

Applicants have devised a new and improved method of making bialys that reduces the cost of production by eliminating the relatively expensive step of shaping each piece of dough manually and also insures greater uniformity in the shape of the bialys. After each piece of dough is relaxed by first proofing, it is positioned under a heated die that is shaped to press the dough into a form which becomes the basis of the bialy shape, with a flat, relatively dense center portion completely surrounded by a softer outer rim portion. The heat and pressure applied to the flat center portion of the bialy kills all the yeast cells in that portion of the bialy, while permitting yeast growth to continue within the outer rim portion. The density of the flat center portion becomes sufficient to prevent the outer rim from shrinking back on to the center, as the outer rim expands due to the induced growth from the yeast. Holes are punctured in the center portion of the docking pins formed on the die to permit steam and other gases to be released from the center portion during second proofing and bake off. Any suitable condiments, such as meat, cheese or sauce, may be placed on the flat center portion of the bialy, which is then proofed a second time before it is placed in a hot oven for bake off.

Method for making bialys

Frozen pizza product with special baked pastry shell is produced from a dough comprising a specified mixture of high protein and low protein wheat flours, and containing between 10 and 17% by weight of solid fat pieces, preferably flakes, of specified dimensions, wherein the fat pieces have a melting point in the range 118°-128° F. by the Wiley method, and wherein the mixing takes place so that the solid fat pieces remain as such as the dough goes into the oven for baking. After topping with pizza sauce and freezing, the resulting crust is tender in the inside and crisp on the bottom, after final rebaking by the consumer, even after freeze-thaw cycles which sometimes occur during shipping and storage.

John H. Wilmes

Papers

Frozen pizza with low fat pastry crust