Dough mixing for farinaceous foodstuff production

Claim 1

A method of mixing dough for use in the production of bread having a specific volume of about 4.5 to 7.0 cubic centimeters per gram and wherein energy added during mixing is sufficient to substantially determine the cell structure of the finished product, the dough, not being a sponge, requiring substantially no fermentation in bulk, comprising the steps of: mechanically mixing the dough in a batch; imparting energy to the dough by said mixing step in a quantity in excess of 15 watt hours per kilogram of total dough ingredients; initiating and completing said mixing step in less than 7 minutes; controlling the temperature rise in the dough resulting from energy input during said mixing step, by passing a fluid coolant through a jacket surrounding the mixing chamber so that the temperature of the dough after mixing is within the range of 25° C. to 35° C.; adding at least one of the ingredients sugar and fat part way through the mixing process but after at least 25% of the total mixing time in the mixing chamber; and carrying out at least part of the mixing under vacuum conditions.

Claim 2

A method of mixing dough for use in the production of bread having a specific volume of about 4.5 to 7.0 cubic centimeters per gram and wherein energy added during mixing is sufficient to substantially determine the cell structure of the finished product, the dough, not being a sponge, requiring substantially no fermentation in bulk, comprising the steps of: mechanically mixing the dough in a batch; imparting energy to the dough by said mixing step in a quantity in excess of 15 watt hours per kilogram of total dough ingredients; initiating and completing said mixing step in less than 7 minutes; controlling the temperature rise in the dough resulting from energy input during said mixing step, by passing a fluid coolant through a jacket surrounding the mixing chamber so that the temperature of the dough after mixing is within the range of 25° C. to 35° C.; adding at least one of the ingredients sugar and fat part way through the mixing process but after at least 25% of the total mixing time in the mixing chamber; and carrying out at least part of the mixing under vacuum conditions.

Claim 3

A method of mixing dough for use in the production of bread having a specific volume of about 4.5 to 7.0 cubic centimeters per gram and wherein energy added during mixing is sufficient to substantially determine the cell structure of the finished product, the dough, not being a sponge, requiring substantially no fermentation in bulk, comprising the steps of: mechanically mixing the dough in a batch; imparting energy to the dough by said mixing step in a quantity in excess of 15 watt hours per kilogram of total dough ingredients; controlling the temperature rise in the dough resulting from energy input during said mixing step, by passing a fluid coolant through a jacket surrounding the mixing chamber so that the temperature of the dough after mixing is within the range of 25° C. to 35° C.; adding at least one of the ingredients sugar and fat part way through the mixing process but after at least 25% of the total mixing time in the mixing chamber; and carrying out at least part of the mixing under vacuum conditions.

Claim 4

A method of mixing dough for use in the production of bread having a specific volume of about 4.5 to 7.0 cubic centimeters per gram and wherein energy added during mixing is sufficient to substantially determine the cell structure of the finished product, the dough, not being a sponge, requiring substantially no fermentation in bulk, comprising the steps of: mechanically mixing the dough in a batch; imparting energy to the dough by said mixing step in a quantity in excess of 15 watt hours per kilogram of total dough ingredients; controlling the temperature rise in the dough resulting from energy input during said mixing step, by passing a fluid coolant through a jacket surrounding the mixing chamber so that the temperature of the dough after mixing is within the range of 25° C. to 35° C.; adding at least one of the ingredients sugar and fat part way through the mixing process but after at least 25% of the total mixing time in the mixing chamber; and carrying out at least part of the mixing under vacuum conditions.

Claim 5

A method of dough mixing according to claims 1 or 2 wherein both said sugar and fat ingredients are added part way through the mixing process.

Claim 6

A method of dough mixing according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said coolant is a liquid having a freezing point lower than that of water and said coolant is at a temperature less than 0° C.

Claim 8

A method of dough mixing according to claims 1 or 2 wherein at least some of the dry ingredients are pre-cooled before development commences.

Claim 9

A method of dough mixing according to claims 1 or 2, in which substantially the entire mixing in the mixing chamber is carried out under vacuum conditions.

Claim 10

A method of dough mixing according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the pressure in the mixing chamber is within the range 500 TORR to 250 TORR.