Patent ID: 8263154
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: A23L

Abstract:
1. A method for making whole nixtamalized corn flour, comprising continuously and repeatedly performing the following steps: providing a cleaned corn kernel comprising endosperm, germ, pericarp and bran components; precooking the cleaned corn kernel in a lime solution to effect a partial pericarp and bran hydrolysis and endosperm gelatinization; washing said precooked cleaned corn kernel to remove soluble solids and excess lime into nejayote wastewater and to stabilize a moisture content of said washed precooked corn kernel; milling said washed and stabilized corn kernel and hot-air drying said milled corn kernel for further gelatinization to obtain a mixture of a coarse-grind fraction and a fine-grind fraction; venting said milled and dried mixture of coarse-grind and fine-grind fractions while exhausting moist air; feeding said milled and dried mixture to an entrance end of an air classifier-cooler, the classifier-cooler comprising: the entrance end and an exit end opposite the entrance end, a flat surface-bed spanning between the entrance end and the exit end and positioned at an oblique angle to horizontal so that an end of the surface-bed near the entrance is higher than an end of the surface-bed near the exit, the surface-bed having a structure that allows air to pass therethrough, at least one air intake having an opening that opens into an interior of the classifier-cooler, the opening positioned below the surface-bed, and a fan positioned above the surface-bed;