Patent ID: 11241024

Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a process for producing “cookable”, fibrous meat analogues employing directional freezing. The process includes subjecting an ingestible polysaccharide containing hydrogel of selected size and shape to directional freezing for inducing formation of elongated ice crystals with said elongated ice crystals aligned in a given direction in the ingestible hydrogel to form a textured hydrogel containing ice crystals. Following this the textured hydrogel is immersed in a solution containing an ingestible soluble protein at a preselected temperature so that as the ice crystals melt, the ingestible heat gelling protein diffuses into the texture hydrogel replacing the ice crystals. The textured hydrogel is immersed in the solution containing the ingestible heat gelling protein for a selected period of time required to give a desired amount of protein loading. The protein-infiltrated hydrogel is then heat-treated at a temperature sufficient to induce gelling and fiber formation within the hydrogel.