Patent ID: 6033703
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: A23D

Abstract:
A process for making a low saturate, low trans beta stable plastic shortening comprising the steps of:1) fully melting and mixing at a temperature from about 120.degree. F. (49.degree. C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.) a mixture comprising:a) an edible oil having less than 8% by weight of saturated fatty acids, and from 0% to about 10% by weight, of edible trans fatty acids, wherein said edible oil comprises from about 74% to about 90% by weight of said plastic shortening;b) a hardstock blend having a beta stable crystalline phase consisting essentially of i) from about 25% to about 80% by weight, of a beta phase tending hardstock component having an iodine value of less than 10, and ii) from about 20% to about 75% by weight of a beta prime phase tending hardstock component, crystallized in beta form, having an iodine value of less than about 10, said hardstock blend comprising from about 10% to about 20% by weight of said plastic shortening;c) from 0 to about 500 per million by weight of an antioxidant, andd) an effective amount of an emulsifier;2) injecting from about 12% to about 23% of an inert gas, under a pressure of from about 50 to about 700 pounds per square inch to form a shortening mixture;3) rapidly cooling said shortening mixture in a scraped wall heat exchanger in less that about 60 seconds to a temperature of from about 40.degree. F. (4.4.degree. C.) to about 70.degree. F. (21.1.degree. C.) while maintaining a pressure of from about 50 to about 700 psig;4) agitating said shortening mixture and imparting enough work input in a picker box for from about 1 to about 8 minutes to transform said shortening mixture to at least 50% beta crystals upon filling, said shortening mixture having a finished shortening consistency of from about 160 mm/10 to about 275 mm/10 and a maximum inert gas bubble size less than 1 mm;5) heating said shortening to a temperature from about 70.degree. F. (21.degree. C.) maximum to 95.degree. F. (35.degree. C.) and passing said shortening through a slotted valve no more than 0.060 inch in width while lowering the pressure from 300 psig to about 700 psig to atmospheric pressure to form a fine inert gas bubble dispersion; said shortening mixture having a filling temperature of from about 40.degree. F. (4.degree. C.) to about 95.degree. F. (35.degree. C.);6) tempering said shortening at a temperature of from about 80.degree. F. (27.degree. C.) to about 110.degree. F. (43.degree. C.) for at least about 24 hours.