US5200222A — Microwave toasting of puffed R-T-E cereals

Claim 1

Independent Claim 75 words

A method for interiorly toasting a puffed R-T-E cereal base to improve its flavor and texture, comprising the step of: subjecting a puffed R-T-E cereal base to a high intensity microwave field for a sufficient period of time long enough to toast the interior of the cereal base and shorter than to cause exterior scorching to provide an interiorly toasted R-T-E cereal base, wherein the microwave field has a field strength of about 125-350 V/cm.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 75 words

A method for interiorly toasting a puffed R-T-E cereal base to improve its flavor and texture, comprising the step of: subjecting a puffed R-T-E cereal base to a high intensity microwave field for a sufficient period of time long enough to toast the interior of the cereal base and shorter than to cause exterior scorching to provide an interiorly toasted R-T-E cereal base, wherein the microwave field has a field strength of about 125-350 V/cm.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the R-T-E cereal base has a moisture content of about 2% to 10% by weight.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 2 wherein the microwave heating step is continued for about 5 to 45 seconds.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 3 wherein the cereal base has a bulk density ranging from about 5.0 to 11 oz/124 in 3 (0.07 to 0.15 g/cc).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 4 wherein the puffed cereal base has a convex shape.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the cereal base comprises a corn based cereal base.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 6 wherein the cereal base comprises a) about 40 to 90 wt % of the cereal base of corn flour, b) about 0.1 to 40 wt % of supplemental flour, c) about 0.1 to 20 wt % of wheat starch.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 7 wherein the puffed cereal pieces comprise spherical pieces.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 additionally comprising applying a topical coating to the cereal base.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the topical coating step follows the microwave step, and wherein the coating additionally comprises a sweetener.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 10 wherein the microwave field has a field strength of about 250 to 350 V/cm.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 4 wherein the puffed cereal base has a non-convex shape.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the puffed cereal base shape is selected from the group consisting of rings, stars, letters, figurines, cornucopias, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 13 wherein the microwave field density is about 250-350 V/cm.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the cereal base comprises puffed ring-shaped cereal pieces.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the cereal base is in the form of a star.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 14 additionally comprising the step of: applying a topical sweetener coating to the microwave toasted R-T-E cereal base to form a presweetened toasted R-T-E cereal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the cereal base comprises a puffed grain selected from the group consisting of puffed corn, puffed wheat, puffed rice and mixtures thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 8 wherein the cereal comprises a) about 75 to 85 wt % of the cereal base of corn flour, b) about 0.5 to 15 wt % of supplemental flour, c) about 2.5 to 75 wt % of wheat starch, d) about 1 to 2.5 wt % of salt, and e) about 0.3 to 7 wt % of sugar.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 1.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 2.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 3.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 4.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 5.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 6.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 7.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 8.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 9.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 10.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 11.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 12.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 13.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 14.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 15.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 16.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 17.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 18.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 19.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 7 additionally comprising the step of partially exteriorly toasting the cereal base by radiant heating prior to subjecting the cereal base to the microwave field.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 39.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 148 words

A method for preparing a puffed cereal piece exhibiting fewer interior voids and interior toasting comprising the steps of: A. providing a quantity of cooked cereal pieces having a moisture content ranging from about 8% to 20% by weight; B. microwave tempering the cooked cereal pieces in a high intensity microwave field having a field strength of greater than 125 V/cm for a time sufficient to evenly distribute the moisture without steam pressure generation within the piece to form a microwave tempered cereal pellet; C. puffing the microwave tempered cereal pellets to form puffed cereal pieces; and D. interiorly microwave toasting the puffed cereal pieces by subjecting the puffed cereal pieces to a high intensity microwave field having a field strength of greater than 125 V/cm for a time sufficiently long to interiorly toast, but shorter than to cause exterior scorching to form finished interiorly toasted cereal pieces.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 148 words

A method for preparing a puffed cereal piece exhibiting fewer interior voids and interior toasting comprising the steps of: A. providing a quantity of cooked cereal pieces having a moisture content ranging from about 8% to 20% by weight; B. microwave tempering the cooked cereal pieces in a high intensity microwave field having a field strength of greater than 125 V/cm for a time sufficient to evenly distribute the moisture without steam pressure generation within the piece to form a microwave tempered cereal pellet; C. puffing the microwave tempered cereal pellets to form puffed cereal pieces; and D. interiorly microwave toasting the puffed cereal pieces by subjecting the puffed cereal pieces to a high intensity microwave field having a field strength of greater than 125 V/cm for a time sufficiently long to interiorly toast, but shorter than to cause exterior scorching to form finished interiorly toasted cereal pieces.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 41 wherein the R-T-E cereal base has a moisture content of about 2% to 10% by weight.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 42 wherein the microwave heating step is continued for about 5 to 45 seconds.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 43 wherein the cereal base has a bulk density ranging from about 5.0 to 11 oz/124 in 3 (0.07 to 0.15 g/cc).

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 44 wherein the puffed cereal base has a convex shape.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 45 wherein the cereal base comprises a corn based cereal base.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 46 wherein the cereal base comprises a) about 40 to 90 wt % of the cereal base of corn flour, b) about 0.1 to 40 wt % of supplemental flour, c) about 0.1 to 20 wt % of wheat starch.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the puffed cereal pieces comprise spherical pieces.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 48 additionally comprising applying a topical coating to the cereal base.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 49 wherein the topical coating step follows the microwave step, and wherein the coating additionally comprises a sweetener.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 50 wherein the microwave field has a field strength of about 250 to 350 V/cm.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 44 wherein the puffed cereal base has a non-convex shape.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 52 wherein the puffed cereal base shape is selected from the group consisting of rings, stars, letters, figurines, cornucopias, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 53 wherein the microwave field density is about 250-350 V/cm.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 41.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 42.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 43.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 44.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 45.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 46.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 47.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 48.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 49.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 50.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 51.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 52.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 53.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 9 words

The product prepared by the method of claim 54.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 27 words

A puffed, R-T-E cereal having an exterior surface and an interior body, the improvement, comprising: an inverse toasting gradient being greatest in the center of the body.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 27 words

A puffed, R-T-E cereal having an exterior surface and an interior body, the improvement, comprising: an inverse toasting gradient being greatest in the center of the body.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 13 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 69 wherein the exterior surface is substantially untoasted.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 10 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 70 having a convex shape.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 10 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 71 having a spherical shape.

Claim 76

Dependent Claim 50 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 72 wherein the cereal comprises a cooked farinaceous cereal dough including a) about 40 to 90 wt % of the cereal base of corn flour, b) about 0.1 to 40 wt % of supplemental flour, c) about 0.1 to 20 wt % of wheat starch.

Claim 77

Dependent Claim 12 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 73 wherein the exterior surface is white.

Claim 78

Dependent Claim 10 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 70 having a non-convex shape.

Claim 79

Dependent Claim 26 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 75 wherein the puffed cereal base shape is selected from the group consisting of rings, stars, letters, figurines and mixtures thereof.

Claim 80

Dependent Claim 15 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 76 wherein the R-T-E cereal includes a topical presweetener coating.

Claim 81

Dependent Claim 19 words

The R-T-E cereal of claim 77 wherein the R-T-E cereal has a density of about 0.05 to 0.15 g/cc.

Claim 82

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the topical coating step precedes the microwave step.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-04-05	1996-10-05	1997-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-04-05	2000-10-05	2001-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-04-05	2004-10-05	2005-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Microwave toasting of puffed R-T-E cereals

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