Patent ID: 8003154

Claim:
A process for producing a refried bean product comprising the steps of: (a) hydrating dried beans in water for a period of time sufficient to increase the moisture content of the beans to approximately 55% to provide hydrated beans, (b) cooking the hydrated beans in water for about 15 minutes at 200° F. to provide cooked beans having a cooked bean flavor and color, (c) coarse grinding the cooked beans to provide a bean slurry including finely divided bean mash, whole bean pieces and bean skin particles, (d) dividing the bean slurry into first and second coarse ground bean portions, (e) milling the first coarse ground bean portion to provide a milled bean portion, (f) homogenizing the milled bean portion with water to provide a homogenized bean portion, (g) combining the homogenized bean portion and second coarse ground bean portion with water, seasonings and lard to provide a combined bean mixture, and (h) mixing the combined bean mixture to provide a refried bean product.