US4753815A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pizza preparation from comminuted cheese
Assignee: Ferag AG
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Filing: 1987-04-08
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Granted: 1988-06-28
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Expires: 2007-04-08
Abstract
Abstract Cheese of the kind used on pizzas is prepared in granular form, and frozen by an individual quick freezing method to maintain granule moisture and distribution. The resulting free-flowing granules can be baked on pizzas in frozen or partially frozen condition while obtaining as good quality baked pizzas as when fully thawed granule cheese is used. The problem of undue browning and blistering heretofore associated with the use of frozen cheese is avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Lester O. Kielsmeier
- 👤 Richard L. Barz
- 👤 Wesley J. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:59
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23C; A23C19/00; A23C19/06; A23C19/068; A23C19/0684; A21; A21D; A21D13/00; A21D13/40; A21D13/41; A23B; A23B11/00; A23B11/60; A23B11/604; A23C19/14; A23C19/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of producing baked pizza, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing cheese in the form of fresh cheese granules, said cheese consisting of at least one variety of mozzarella, or a blend of mozzarella with other cheese, said blend being adapted for use on baked pizza; (b) freezing said cheese granules by individual quick freezing thereof, the cheese granules being frozen at a temperature below -10° F. which freezes the granules so rapidly that the individual granules retain essentially the same moisture content and distribution as before freezing, the resulting frozen granules being in free-flowing condition; (c) maintaining said granules in frozen free-flowing condition with said moisture substantially unchanged until the granules are used; (d) applying the granules so maintained to pizzas being prepared for baking without complete thawing of the granules, at least the interiors thereof being frozen; and (e) baking the pizzas with the applied unthawed granules and obtaining baked pizzas of good appearance and quality.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of producing baked pizza, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing cheese in the form of fresh cheese granules, said cheese consisting of at least one variety of mozzarella, or a blend of mozzarella with other cheese, said blend being adapted for use on baked pizza; (b) freezing said cheese granules by individual quick freezing thereof, the cheese granules being frozen at a temperature below -10° F. which freezes the granules so rapidly that the individual granules retain essentially the same moisture content and distribution as before freezing, the resulting frozen granules being in free-flowing condition; (c) maintaining said granules in frozen free-flowing condition with said moisture substantially unchanged until the granules are used; (d) applying the granules so maintained to pizzas being prepared for baking without complete thawing of the granules, at least the interiors thereof being frozen; and (e) baking the pizzas with the applied unthawed granules and obtaining baked pizzas of good appearance and quality.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 in which said granules are applied to the pizza in an essentially fully frozen condition and are baked thereon from said frozen state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 in which an aqueous carrier containing one or more cheese additives is applied to the frozen granules prepared in step (b) and frozen surface coatings of said carrier are formed thereon, the resulting coated granules being used in steps (c), (d) and (e).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of claims 1, 2, or 3 in which said cheese granules are prepared entirely from varieties of mozzarella.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of producing baked pizza, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing cheese in the form of fresh cheese granules, said cheese consisting of at least one variety of mozzarella, or a blend of mozzarella with other cheese, said blend being adapted for use on baked pizza; (b) freezing said cheese granules by blowing air at a temperature below -20° F. through a fluidized bed of the granules, said granules being frozen so rapidly that the individual granules retain essentially the same moisture content and distribution as before freezing, the resulting frozen granules remaining in free-flowing condition; (c) maintaining said granules in frozen free-flowing condition with said moisture substantially unchanged until the granules are used; (d) applying the granules so maintained to pizzas being prepared for baking without complete thawing of the granules, at least the interiors thereof being frozen; and (e) baking the pizzas with the applied unthawed granules and obtaining baked pizzas of good appearance and quality.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of producing baked pizza, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing cheese in the form of fresh cheese granules, said cheese consisting of at least one variety of mozzarella, or a blend of mozzarella with other cheese, said blend being adapted for use on baked pizza; (b) freezing said cheese granules by blowing air at a temperature below -20° F. through a fluidized bed of the granules, said granules being frozen so rapidly that the individual granules retain essentially the same moisture content and distribution as before freezing, the resulting frozen granules remaining in free-flowing condition; (c) maintaining said granules in frozen free-flowing condition with said moisture substantially unchanged until the granules are used; (d) applying the granules so maintained to pizzas being prepared for baking without complete thawing of the granules, at least the interiors thereof being frozen; and (e) baking the pizzas with the applied unthawed granules and obtaining baked pizzas of good appearance and quality.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 5 in which an aqueous carrier containing a flavor additive, or a cheese emulsifier additive, or both of said additives is applied to the frozen granules prepared in step (b) and frozen surface coatings of said carrier are formed thereon, the resulting coated granules being used in steps (c), (d) and (e).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5 in which granules of mozzarella and granules of at least one of said other cheese are separately prepared in step (a), separately frozen in step (b), and then mixed to provide the granules used in steps (c), (d) and (e).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 in which said cheese granules are prepared entirely from varieties of mozzarella.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 5 in which said frozen granules in step (c) are maintained by storage at a freezing temperature no lower than the temperature at which the granules were originally frozen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 5 in which said frozen granules in step (c) are maintained by storage at a series of freezing temperatures higher than the temperature at which they were originally frozen, the freezing temperatures of said series being progressively higher temperatures.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of preparing and baking pizza, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing cheese in the form of fresh cheese granules, said cheese consisting of at least one variety of mozzarella, or a blend of mozzarella with other cheese, said blend being adapted for use on baked pizza; (b) freezing said cheese granules by individual quick freezing thereof, the cheese granules being frozen at a temperature below -10° F. which freezes the granules so rapidly that the individual granules retain essentially the same moisture content and distribution as before freezing, the resulting frozen granules being in free-flowing condition; (c) applying the frozen cheese granules as a topping to unbaked, unfrozen pizza; (d) freezing the pizzas with the frozen cheese granules thereon; and thereafter (e) baking the pizzas in frozen or partially frozen condition while the cheese granules have essentially the same moisture content and distribution, at least the interiors of the cheese granules being frozen at the start of said baking.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of preparing and baking pizza, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing cheese in the form of fresh cheese granules, said cheese consisting of at least one variety of mozzarella, or a blend of mozzarella with other cheese, said blend being adapted for use on baked pizza; (b) freezing said cheese granules by individual quick freezing thereof, the cheese granules being frozen at a temperature below -10° F. which freezes the granules so rapidly that the individual granules retain essentially the same moisture content and distribution as before freezing, the resulting frozen granules being in free-flowing condition; (c) applying the frozen cheese granules as a topping to unbaked, unfrozen pizza; (d) freezing the pizzas with the frozen cheese granules thereon; and thereafter (e) baking the pizzas in frozen or partially frozen condition while the cheese granules have essentially the same moisture content and distribution, at least the interiors of the cheese granules being frozen at the start of said baking.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 11 in which an aqueous carrier containing one or more cheese additives is applied to the frozen granules prepared in step (b) and frozen surface coatings of said carrier are formed thereon, the resulting coated granules being applied to the pizzas in step (c).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 or claim 12 in which said cheese granules are prepared entirely from varieties of mozzarella.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-06-28 | 1991-12-28 | 1992-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-28 | 1995-12-28 | 1996-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-28 | 1999-12-28 | 2000-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |