CA2038987A1 - Process for microwave browning, composition used for same and product produced thereby - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Described is a process for producing a cooked edibly browned storage-stable fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff including the steps of:

(a) providing a particulate flowable flavoring powder which contains individually discretly encapsulated Maillard reaction reagents with the reaction reagents being at least one encapsulated amino acid and at least one encapsulated sugar;
(b) providing an uncooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff containing more than 50% water;
(c) placing in intimate the contact with at least part of the surface of the foodstuff, a flavor augmenting, imparting or enhancing quantity of the particulate flowable flavoring powder of (a); and (d) exposing the flavoring powder coated foodstuff surface to microwave powder-radiation for a period of time to cause the foodstuff to be edible whereby the resulting product is caused to be edible as a foodstuff and the cooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue is edibly browned. Optionally, the particulate flowable flavoring powder may be in the form of a slurry with a solvent composition which is capable of raising the dielectric constant of the foodstuff to be cooked whereby the foodstuff to be cooked is completely cooked and edibly browned in the period of time under 600 seconds.

Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The increased use of microwaves for cooking has given rise to a large market ln microwavable foods. while the advantage of microwave cooking over convection oven cooking is the time savings, the disadvantage is that proteinaceous fibrous muscle tissue (e.g. turkey meat, chicken breast, brisket of beef, swordfish steak and the like) do not develop the surface browning or crust formation expected with convection oven cooking.
Our objective has been to create that browning which enhances the products appearance, making it look as if it were cooked in a convection oven.
In the microwave, food does not have sufficient time or temperature for the chemicals responslble for browning to react. Therefore, for a microwave browning system to work, it must accelerate the rate of the browning reactions or locally increase the surface temperature.
Ultimately, the reactions responsible for browning have to be accomplished in the relatively short time frame dictated by the foods preparation conditions. The times needed for preparing microwave foods vary depending upon the power output of the microwave unit and the mass of the food to be cooked and the nature of the food to be cooked. A typical 750 watt microwave will cook proteinaceous fibrous muscle tissue foodstuffs in 6 to 15 minutes.
Several additional requirements for a successful microwave browning system are as follows:

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1. In addition to the desired browning effect, it must generate either no aroma or one which is ,1 compatible with the target foodstuff;
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2. The browning reaction must not take place before cooking the foodstuff;

3. After cooking, the browning must stop, and not ¦ darken the foodstuff substantiallyO
¦ The reactions responsible for browning during I¦ convection oven cooking are the caramelization of sugars and il the Maillard reaction between naturally occurring reducing ~¦ sugars, amino acids, amines, peptides and proteins which results in the formation of colored melanoidins. until recently ~1984) there were numerous patent and literature references to such reactions for the production of flavors, where the generation of color was inconsequential or ¦ objectionable. In the past few years several patents have appeared wherein microwave browning created by Maillard reactions have been the topic. Thus, Bryson, et al. in United states Letters Patent 4,735,812 issued on April S, 1988 discloses a browning agent particularly for use in microwave cooking comprising collagen or gelatin hydrolyzed to its constituent amino acids plus one or more reducing I¦ sugars and alkalis. It is further indicated in Bryson, et ,¦ al. that the collagen preferably is derived from BoVine ,i hides, and that the alkalis are preferably a mixture of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate. It is further indicated that the browning agent may be incorporated into a film or used as a powder or liquid.
Parliment et al. United States Letters Patent ~ ... ..

4,857,340 issued on August 15, 1989 discloses a composition of an aroma producing material enrobed in a fusible encapsulating agent, preferably a lipid and in conductive ! heat tr~nsfer relationship with a microwave susceptible , material when combined with a microwave comestible or ;¦ package for providing an aroma when the comestible or ¦ package is prepared by subjecting the comestible or package ¦ and composition to microwave energy.

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Kim et al., "~ormation of Volatile Compounds from Maillard Reaction of D-Glucose with DL-Alanine in Propylene Glycol Solution", Han'guk Sikplum Kwahakhoechi 1988, 20(2), 157-63 (Korea), (Abstracted at Chemical Abstracts Volume 112 at 34512q) discloses volatile compounds produced from the browning reaction of alanine and glucose using propylene glycol as a reaction medium.
Although the prior art does take advantage of the reaction between reducing sugars and amino acids, it has not made any correlation of reaction rates needed for browning reactions with reaction variables such as pH solvent, or I sugar reactivity in connection with browning reactions concerning the surface of proteinaceous muscle tissué such ~ c~ t.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a cut-away side elevation view of a slurry-coated food article section coated with a fluid having intimately admixed therewith encapsulated Maillard reaction reactants (with optional pH adjustment agent) prior to carrying out the microwave browning step of the process of our invention.
Figure lA is a cut-away side elevation view of an ¦ encapsulated Maillard reaction reactant, namely sugar I encapsulated in fat.
!l ~ is cut-away side elevation view of an ¦ encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent, namely sodium ,¦ carbonate encapsulated in fat.
i Figure lC is a cut-away side elevation view of an ! encapsulated Maillard reaction reactant, namely an amino acid encapsulated in fat.
Figure lD is a cut-away side elevation view of a ¦ poultry drumstick coated with fluid containing encapsulated Maillard reaction product reactants.
ll Figure 2 is a cut-away side elevation view (in ¦~ schematic form) of a microwave oven containing a coated food I article (coated with fluid containing encapsulated Maillard il reaction product reactants) prior to and during the carrying out of the process of our invention.
Flgure 2A is a cut-away side elevation view (in ¦ schematic form) of a microwave oven containing a coated food I article (coated with encapsulated Maillard reaction product il reactants) prior to and during the carrying out of another l embodiment of the process of our invention.

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Figure 2B is a cut-away side elevation view of a coated food article section coated with encapsulated Maillard reaction product reactants (with optional p~
`~ adjustment agent).
~` Figure 3 is a block flow diagram showing the steps, in schematic form for carrying out the process for -` forming drum chilled Maillard reaction product reactant in encapsulated form and spray chilled Maillard reaction product reactant in encapsulated form useful in the practice ~i o the process of our invention.
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram setting forth apparatus and process steps useful in forming spray chilled Maillard reaction product reactant flavor precursor ~in l encapsulated form) useful in the practice of the process of j our invention.
Il Figure 5 is a flQw diagram setting forth in ,' schematic form the apparatus and process steps required in 'i producing drum chilled Maillard reaction product reagents in encapsulated form useful in the practice of the process of ` our invention.
! Figure 6 is a block flow diagram showing the steps, in schematic form, for carrying out the process of our invention and indicating the multiple means (apparatus l elements) useful in carrying out the process of our ¦i invention whereby an uncooked proteinaceous muscle tissue food article is coated with encapsulated Maillard reaction product reagents, individually, in slurry form, prior to 1~ microwave heating.
'1 Figure 7 is a block flow diagram showing the steps, in schema~ic form, for carrying out another aspect of ~ the process of our invention and indicating the multiple means (apparatus elements) useful in carrying out that aspect of the process of our invention wherein browning precursor powder (encapsulated Maillard reaction product , reagents) is applied to a portion of the surface of the uncooked food article prior to rnicrowave heating, , .

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ij i . . , ,, . g ij SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
., , .j . Our invention is directed to a process for i producing a cooked edibly browned storage stable fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff comprising the steps of:

, (a) providing a particulate flowable flavoring :` powder consisting essentially of @
, individually discretly encapsulated Maillard ' reaction reagents, which Maillard reaction reagents are:
` (i) at least one encapsulated amino acid;

:1 (ii) at least one encapsulated sugar optionally admixed with at least one Maillard reaction promoter, and , optionally ;, (iii) at least one encapsulated pH adjustment agent and, optionally ~ at least one . Maillard reaction promoter;

' (b) providing an uncooked fibrous proteinaceous ; muscle tissue foodstuff containing more than ! 50% of water having an outer uncooked foodstuff surface;

~', (c) placing in intimate contact with at least a , major portion of said uncooked foodstuff surface a flavor augmenting, imparting or ,1 enhancing quantity of said particulate `~ flowable flavoring powder thereby forming a `~ flavoring powder-coated foodstuff surface; and I (d) exposing the flavoring powder-coated foodstuff surface to microwave radiation for a predetermined controlled period of time, whereby the resulting product is caused to be edible as a foodstuff and the cooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff surface is edibly browned, Our invention is also directed to the optional , embodiment of incorporating the particulate flowable ,i flavoring powder in admixture with a liquid whereby a slurry is formed with a solvent composition which is capable of raising the dielectric constant of the proteinaceous muscle ,` I
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tissue foodstuff to be cooked whereby the foodstuff to be cooked is completely cooked and edibly browned in a period I i of time under 600 seconds.
u Our invention is also intended to encompass a .j !
process ~herein the particulate flow-able flavoring powder is , prepared according to a process comprising the steps of: j j (i) heating a high melting point normally solid ! encapsulating material to melt the i! encapsulating material forming a molten ¦ encapsulating agent;
(ii) separately mixing each of the Maillard reaction reagent containing components of I the Maillard reaction reagent containing ! composition with discrete individual ;, portions of the molten encapsulating agent;
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!; ~iii) spray chilling or drum chilling the '¦ Maillard reaction reagent containing composition mixture to provide discrete l particles of solid Maillard reaction il reagent-containing agent.
,i Our invention is also directed to another ~¦ embodiment of the aforementioned process wherein the ,¦ particulate flowable flavoring powder is prepared according I! to a process comprising:
ll l ti) heating a high melting point normally solid encapsulated material and at least one emulsifier to melt the encapsulating , material and emulsifier;
j, (ii) admixing the melted encapsulating material ', and emulsi~ier;
(iii) separately mixing each component of the Maillard reaction reagent containing composition with a textured conditioning agent;
(iv) separately mixing each component of the ! Maillard reaction reagent containing i composition and textured conditioning .! agent with discrete individual portions o~
¦I the molten mixture of encapsulating agent !i and emulsifier to obtain homogeneous mixtures in the form of emulsions;
(v) mixing the resulting emulsions; and !
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tvi) chilling the resulting Maillard reaction reagent containing composition-containing mixture to provide discrete particles of solid encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent containing composition.
our invention is also directed to the products produced according to such process.
With reference to that aspect of our invention involving the utilization of particulate flowable flavoring powder in the form of a slurry with a solvent composition which is capable of raising the dielectric constant of the foodstuff to be cooked, whereby the foodstuff to be cooked is completely cooked and edibly browned in a period of time under 600 seconds a mathematical model useful in relating each of the variables involved in the development of our invention is set forth thusly:

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~ f R (T~- T;) + ~A + i [ ~ ~ E'~ ' In an approximate version an equation for calculating the time of heating as a function of viscosity of the coating ~prior to cooking) and further, as a function of the temperature differential between the center of the food article to be cooked and the outer surface of the coating during the microwave browning operation is set forth thusly: .

. i AL ~ I~RO WfV~ ~6Y 1~`/~ ~-~2 i /\~ ( JJI~ E) ~
r f ' R' ('r~,--T~ ) + hA ~ E" )~ ~' ., .

wherein the terms Q

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i~ is the total microwave energy input during the process of our Il invention ` 1 dGl I is the rate of heat input equivalent to the rate of energy I use by the mi-rowave oven f~

~ is the effective radius of th- -ood article being cooked ~o~9~'l Ii -13-~ iB the heat transEer coeifieient oi the iood article being ¦l eooked (the solid material), ;

is the viseosity oi the coating immediately prior to cooking ~/

is a proportionality constant which is a function of the eoating thiekness immediately prior to cooking and the geometry of the artiele being cooked as well as the geometry of the mierowave oven ~f is the heat capacity of the eoating immediately prior to eooking, I

f-~O~f'~7 i -14-`! is the density of the liquid coating immediately prior to cooking ,~, l/ i iB the temperature at the center of the food article being cooked:

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is the temperature at the outer surface of the food article being cooked h,~

is the convection heat transfer coefficient for the air layer surrounding the food article being cooked;

,11 is the proportionality const-nt for radiation term for concentric sp eres ~the coating surrouding the uncooked food):

L~ -is the electric field strength I is the freguency C~

is the relative dielectric constant of coating material; and ¦ is the time of the microwave cooking, ¦¦ The foregoing equations were derived from equations set forth in:

~Heat Transfer and Food Products", Hallstrom, et al, Elsevier Applied Science Publishing Company, 1988;

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i : ' ~, , ~Principals of Chemical Engineeringn, Walker, l et al, Third Edition, McGraw Hill Book Company, 1937; and . "Chemical Engineer's Handbook~, Fifth Edition, ? Perry and Chilton, McGraw Hill Book Company, '¦ pages 10-10, 10-11 and 10-12.

il our invention is also intended to cover apparatus ~¦ for carrying out the aforementioned process which apparatus l; consists essentially of:
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. (i) separate encapsulating means for encapsulating Maillard reaction reagents to produce separate ' batches of capsules each containing an individual Maillard reaction reagent;
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tii) mixing means for mixing the separate batches of capsules to form a single batch of flowable capsules;

(iii) coating means for coating the said batch of capsules prepared using said mixing means onto an uncooked . fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff, said coating means being downstream from said mixing means;
~: and ' (iv) microwave cooking means downstream :, from said coating means to cook the coated uncooked fibrous ~ proteinaceous muscle tissue . foodstuff, whereby it becomes cooked, edibly browned and storage stable.
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., , Another embodiment of the apparatus of our invention consists essentially of:

(i) separate encapsulating means for encapsulating Maillard reaction reagents to produce separate batches of capsules, each capsule including an individual Maillard reaction reagent;
l ll (ii) first mixing means for mixing the separate batches of capsules to form a single batch of flowable capsules;

(iii) second mixing means downstream from said first mixing means for mixing said batch of flowable capsules with a solvent composition which is capable of raising the dielectric constant of a foodstuff to be cooked, whereby the foodstuff to be cooked is completely cooked and ¦~ edibly browned in a period of time under 600 seconds, said second mixing means capable of handling a slurry consisting `! of said solvent and said flowable capsule;

~¦ (iv) coating means for coating the slurry ,I prepared in using said second mixing means onto uncooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuffs;
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,, (v) microwave cooking means downstream from u said coating means to cook the coated uncooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle ,. tissue foodstuff or by said foodstuff il becomes cooked, edibly browned and I storage stable.

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1'1 1 3~ 7 eferred encapsulating materials have melting points of from about 130F up to about 195F and are more preferably fats or waxes having such melting points.
Desirably, the encapsulating material is a hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, stearate, a fatty glyceride ester or partial ester or a edible wax. More particularly the encapsulating agent is preferably a partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, a partially hydrogenated soybean oil, a partially hydrogenated palm oil, a glycol monostearate, a glycerol monopalmitate, a propylene glycol monostearate, a polyglycerol stearate, a polyoxyethylene sorbitol, a fatty acid ester of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, a polyglycerol ester of fatty i acid, bees wax, carnauba wax, paraffin wax or candellila wax When a texture conditioning agent is used, it is i preferred that the quantity of textured conditioning agent is from about 0.1 up to about 1 times the amount of Maillard reaction reagent containing composition used.
When the encapsulation process is spray chilling, it is preferred that the homogeneous mixtures chilled by spraying the mixture into a stream of gas with the gas being preferred to have a temperature of from about 40F up to about 116F It is further preferred that the spraying be I carried out using a centrifugal atomizer. It is further ! preferred that the homogeneous mixture be admixed with compressed air and spra~ed through a nozzle Furthermore, the mixture may be chilled by contact with a surface at a temperature less than the melting point of the encapsulating material to form flakes; and it is preferred that the flakes are reduced in size to pass through a number 10 screen prior to further use.
When using a solvent to form a slurry of capsules, the solvent is preferred to be glycerine~
propylene glycol, mixtures of glycerine and propylene glycol from one part glycerine up to 99 parts propylene glycol down to 99 parts glycerine to 1 part propylene glycol, mixtures of glycerine and ethanol wherein the ethanol:glycerine ratio is from 50 parts ethanol:50 parts glycerine down to 1 part ethanol:99 parts glycerine and mixtures of propylene glycol and ethanol wherein the ratio of propylene glycol:ethanol is from 50 parts propylene glycol:50 parts ethanol down to 99 parts propylene glycol:l part ethanol.
It is preferred that the sugar reactant in the Maillard reaction product reagent composition is one of the following sugars:

Rhamnose Xylose;
Arabanose Ribose;
Fructose and Glucose Furthermore, it is preferred that the amino acid reactant in the Maillard reaction reagent composition is one of the following amino acids:

Lysine;
Arginine;
Cysteine Methionine;
Yeast Extract; and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein.
It is also preferred that the Maillard reaction reagent particles be reduced in size to pass through a 100 mesh screen prior to their being encapsulated.

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,¦ A Maillard reaction promoter such as polyvinyl ¦ pyrrolidone, may, optionally be encapsulated along with the ¦ sugar prior to being placed on the surface of the proteinaceous muscle tissue prior to microwave cooking.
Furthermore, the Maillard~reaction promoter such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone may be sepaxately added to the ~¦ encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent composition prior to ,1 coating on the proteinaceous meat muscle tissue prior to i3 microwave cooking.
,1 In one aspect of our invention each of the i1 browning precursors (Maillard reaction product reagents) are individually incorporated into a controlled release system '1 prior to coating onto the proteinaceous muscle tissue 31 foodstuff to be cooked via microwave cooking Thus, for example, the amino acid precursor or mixture of amino acid precursors are admixed with a fat in a weight ratio from l ¦1 part amino acid precursor to 2 parts fat down to l part fat 31 composition to ~ parts precursor composition. The resulting ¦1 mixture is drum chilled as more specifically set forth in j the examples infra. The drum chilled product is then i1 admixed with a similarly formed drum chilled or spray I1 chilled encap~sulated sugar and similarly formed drum chilled 11 or spray chilled encapsulated sodium carbonate. The ¦~ resulting mixture is then either admixed with a solvent as ~¦ set forth supra or per se coated onto a meat product, for example:

' Turkey meat;
i Chicken breast~
Brisket of Beef Swordfish Steak; and ¦ the like.

Il, ~1~ 3 ~ 7 The resulting product is then placed in a microwave oven and the microwave oven is maintained in heating mode for a period of at least 6 minutes. The resulting product is edibly browned and has substantially o~ lstG~on.

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DETAILED DECRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the dxawings, Figure 1 is a cut-away side elevation view of a slurry-coated food article section 12 coated with a fluid such as glycerine 10 having intimately admixed therewith encapsulated Maillard reaction reactants with optional pH adjustment agent prior to carrying out the microwave browning step of the process of our invention.
Thus, the solvent composition 10 is capable of raising the dielectric constant of the foodstuff 12 to be cooked whereby the foodstuff 12 to be cooked is completely cooked and edibly browned in a period of time of from 6 to 15 minutes (under 900 seconds and preferably under 600 seconds). The solid components of the slurry have been previously encapsulated according to the processes as set forth in Figures 3, 4 and 5. More specifically, the particle indicated by reference numeral 16 is a fat encapsulated sugar particle with the fat being indicated by reference numeral 28 and the sugar being indicated by reference numeral 30. ~his particular particle is also shown in detailed cross-section form in Figure lA.
Furthermore, the particle indicated by reference numeral 18 is a fat encapsulated sodium carbonate particle with the fat indicated by reference numeral 26 and the sodium carbonate indicated by reference numeral 32. The sodium carbonate is a pH adjustment agent for the Maillard reaction which is carried out during the microwave heating. Similarly, the particle indicated by reference numeral 20 is a fat encapsulated amino acid particle with the amino acid itself being indicated by reference numeral 34 and the fat encapsulating the amino acid being indicated by reference numeral 24.

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i Figure 1~ is a poultry drumstick coated with Il fluid (indicated by reference numeral 10) containing encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent reactants. The particles set Eorth in Figures 1~, lB and lC are once again repeated using the same reference numerals in Figures lD.
Thus, reference numeral 10 indicates the solvent such as glycerine or a mixture of propylene gylcol glycerine.
¦~ Reference numexal 16 indicates the encapsulated sugar.
Reference numeral 18 indicates the encapsulated sodium ! carbonate. Reference numeral 20 indicates the encapsulated amino acid. Reference numeral 12 indicates the proteinaceous meat on which the slurry is coated, in this case being the meat of a turkey drumstick or a chicken drumstick. The same drumstick is set forth in schematic form in Figure 2.
, Thus, Figure 2 is a cut-away side elevation view ., I
tin schematic form) of a microwave oven indicated by reference numeral 138 containing a coated food article of the type set forth in cross-section form in Figure 1 D.
The food article having the slurry coating on the uncooked proteinaceous foodstuff 12 is contained in microwave oven _38, more specifically in box 40 wherein microwave source 42 emits energy substantially perpendicular to the upper ; surface of the food article. The microwave energy passes through the coating surface and causes the reaction in the 1, coating which contains solvent 10 and encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent reactants 34 and 30 to take place whereby Maillard reaction products are produced. The solvent 10 heats up and activates the molecules of the reactants.
Simultaneously, the solid proteinaceous fibrous meat material 12 is heated and the coating containing the solvent 10 is adsorbed through the surface of the proteinaceous ~8~8 ~

foodstuff into the outer interstices of the proteinaceous meat 12. Prior to 900 seconds (preferably 600 seconds) the entire proteinaceous fibrous meat product is cooked and the surface coating now containing the Maillard reaction product is substantially adsorbed into the outer interstices of the proteinaceous food article.
The proteinaceous food article rests at point 39 in box 40~
In view of the fact that the proteinaceous food article prior to cooking contains more than ~0% water, the use of the solvents such as glycerine or mixtures of glycerine propylene glycol or mixtures of propylene glycol and ethanol is not necessary (although such use of a solvent is preferred). Thus, referring to Figure 2B, Figure 2B is a cut-away side elevation view of a coated food article coated with encapsulated Maillard reaction product reagents with the optional pH adjustment agent. The proteinaceous food article is indicated by reference numeral 12. The encapsulated sugar is indicated by reference numeral 16 with the actual sugar being indicated by reference numeral 30 and the fat encapsulating agent being indicated by reference numeral 28. The encapsulated pH adjustment agent, sodium carbonate is indicated by reference numeral 18 with the actual sodium carbonate particle being indicated by reference numeral 32 and the fat encapsulating agent being indicated by reference numeral 26. The amino acid reactant is indicated by reference numeral 20 with the actual amino acid particle being indicated by reference numeral 34 and the fat encapsulating agent being indicated by reference numeral 24. Again, the fat encapsulation is carried out by !
using the processes of Figures 3, 4 and 5.

',' i -25-`i Figure 2A is a cut-away side elevation view (in i schematic form) of a microwave oven 138 containing a coated food article prior to and during the carrying out of the i process of our invention, wherein the coating is of the type ¦¦ set forth in detail in Figure 2B.
A turkey or chicken drumstick having proteinaceous fibrous muscle tissue 12 is coated with capsules 16, 18 and 20 as shown in Figure 2B. The uncooked proteinaceous muscle tissue drumstick is contained in microwave oven 138, more specifically in box 40 wherein i microwave source 42 emits energy substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the food article. The microwave '~¦ energy passes through the surface of the muscle tissue and ! causes the reaction to take place (aided by the evolution of water vapor from the muscle meat tissue 12) whereby Maillard reaction products are produced. The water in the meat muscle tissue 12 heats up and activates the molecules of the reactants in capsules 16, 18 and 20. Simultaneously, the i solid material 12 (the meat muscle tissue) is heated and the i Maillard reaction products are adsorbed through the surface ~¦ thereof into the outer interstices of the meat muscle tissue product 12. Prior to 900 seconds (preferably 600 seconds) the entire drumstick is cooked and the surface coating now containing the Maillard reaction product is substantially `` ~ adsorbed into the outer interstices of the drumstick. The food article rests at point 39 in box 40.
I Figure 3 sets forth a schematic block flow ,ll diagram of the process for producing spray chilled Maillard reaction reagent containing powder or drum chilled Maillard reaction reagent containing powder useful in forming ,I material for incorportation into the interstices of the il uncooked proteinaceous muscle tissue food product during ~ ~ 3 (~ iJ

l ll Individual Maillard reaction reagent taken optionally with pH adjustment material (e.g. sodium ¦ earbonate or sodium biearbonate, for example) in loeation !! 501 is admixed with molten fat from location 505 (optionally ! admixed with fat emulsifier from loeation 503) with the mixing taking place in mixing means 507 together, optionally, with texturizer from location 509.
The resultant mixture created at mixing means 507 may then either be spray chilled at location 511 or drum ehilled at loeation 513. The spray ehilled precursor produet at loeation 515 is then admixed with additional spray ehilled precursor product (for example, spray chilled encapsulated amino acid is admixed with spray chilled eneapsulated sugar) whieh may be further admixed with spray ehilled sodium carbonate.
¦I The drum chilled product from loeation 513 is i ground at location 517 yielding individual drum chilled j precursor powder. The drum ehilled preeursor, for example, drum chilled encapsulated amino acid may then be admixed with drum ehilled or spray ehilled encapsulated sugar which may be further admixed with drum chilled or spray chilled pH
adjustment agent such as encapsulated sodium carbonate or eneapsulated sodium bicarbonate ;

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¦ Samples of fatty materials useful in this process are set forth supra and their respective melting points are as follows:

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Fatty Material Melting Point Range Partially hydrogenatec cotton seed oil ............. 141-147F

Partially hydrogenated soybean oil .......... ~...... 152-158F

¦Partially hydrogenate~
¦palm oil ¦ ............................. 136-144F

Mono and diglycerides ................... 136-156F
Glycerol monostearate.................... 158F
Glycerol monopalmitate................... 132F
Propylene glycol monostearate............ 136F
¦~ Polyglycerol stearate.................... 127-135F

PoIyoxyethylene sorbitol beeswax derivatives ... 145-154F

Polyoxyethylene sorb~ta~
~sters of fatty acids I ................. 140-144F

sorbitan monostearate.................... 121-127F

ll I Polyglycerol esters of il fatty acids ................ ,........... 135-138F
~1 _ i Beeswax.................................. 143-150F
Carnauba wax............................. 180-186F

i i l l Texturizers include precipitated silicon dioxide, for example, SIPERNAT ~ 50S (bulked density 6.2 pounds per cubic foot; particle size 8 microns; surface area 450 square meters per gram manufactured by the Degussa Corporation of Teterboro, New Jersey other silicon dioxide texturizers are as follows:
SIPERNAT ~ 22S manufactured by Degussa Corporation;

ZEOTHIX ~ 265 manufactured by J. M. Huber Corporation oE Havre de Grace, Maryland;

CAB-0-SIL ~ EH-5 manufactured by the Cabot Corporation, of Tuscola, Illinois;
Figure 4 is a diagram of the process and apparatus (in schematic form) for producing spray chilled Maillard reaction precursor powder useful in the process of our invention (which powder may additionally contain Maillard reaction promoter and p~ adjustment agent). Maillard reaction precursor materials, fat emulsifier in molten state and texturizer are admixed in mixing kettle 601. The resulting mixture is spray chilled in spray chiller 603 and the resulting ¦
,¦ spray chilled particles containing Maillard reaction precursor . and optionally pH adjustment agent and optionally Maillard ~¦ reaction promoter are classified. The classification is carried out in cyclone separator 605 with the laeger size i particles which are useful in the practice of our invention . going through seive 607 into recelver 609 !I
, More specifically, the molten mixture maintained in the fluid state is pumped to the ~spray chiller~ which is actually a spray dryer and atomized into fine droplets using an ¦
atomizer. A nozzle may be specifically engineered to exclude , chilled air or chilled air may be utilized to solidify the .1 i 2~(3~J~
i, ' -29-il l ¦¦ resulting fat particles~ Atmospheric unheated air may be used ¦¦ to blow through the spray dryer. The final product collected !1 is in fine powder form with particles about 50-120 microns in ¦ size.
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram setting forth a process and apparatus useful in preparing drum chilled Maillard ~I reaction reagent powder (additionally containing Maillard ¦¦ reaction promoter and Maillard reaction p~ adjustment agen~) useful in carrying out the process of our invention, wherein the resulting powder separately contains amino acid, sugar and pH adjustment agent. ~ach of these materials is produced in a separate step.
The Maillard reaction reagent precursor material, j for example, the amino acid arginine is admixed with molten fat Ii and emulsifier (optional) and texturizer (optional) in mixing ! kettle 701. The molten material is then pumped through feed !! line 703 into drum chiller 709. The resulting drum chilled 1 product collected at location 705 is passed into grinder/sifter il 711 and then collected at location 713.
, An example of a grinder/sifter useable in the ¦l instant invention is the KEMUTEC BETAGRIND ~ . Another I' example of workable apparatus is the KEK-Gardner Centrifugal !~1 Sifter.
Figure 6 sets forth a schematic block flow diagram of the process of our invention whereby Eluid, e.g., glycerine located at 302 and encapsulated Maillard reaction reagents from location 301 are mixed at second mixing means 304. The Il resulting slurry is utilized at coating means 306.
¦¦ Proteinaceous muscle tissue meat product, e.g., chicken breast Il meat from location 306, is coated at coating means 306 and then 3 9 ~ ~

placed into microwave heating means 138 wherein the proteinaceous food product is cooked for a period of time less than 900 seconds (preferably less than 600 seconds) and transported for marketing to location 310. The precursor particle materials individually produced according to the processes shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 supra are shown as individual particles coming from locations 301A, 301B and 301C.
Thus, for example, encapsulated amino acid particles produced according to the process of Figure 5 are located at location 301A. ~ncapsulated sugar particles produced according to the process of Figure 4 are located at location 301B. Encapsulated pH adjustment agents such as fat encapsulated sodium carbonate or fat encapsulated sodium bicarbonate at location 301C are produced according to the process of Figure 4.
Figure 7 sets forth the schematic block flow diagram of another aspect of the process of our invention whereby Maillard reaction reagent precursor powder, for example, drum chilled fat encapsulated amino acid from location 401A (produced according to the process of Figure 5), spray chilled fat encapsulated sugar from location 401B (produced according to the process of Figure 4) and drum chilled fat encapsulated p~ adjustment agent sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate from location 401C (produced according to the process of Figure 5) are admixed in flavor peecursor particle mixing means 401. The resulting mixture is then coated onto meat muscle tissue (turkey breast, for example) from location 403 at coating means 405. The coated meat muscle tissue from location 405 is placed into microwave heating means 138 where microwave cooking takes place and the foodstuff to be cooked is completely cooked and edibly browned in a period of time under 900 seconds (preferably under 600 seconds). The resulting cooked article9 are then transported eOr marketing to location 2 ~

It should be noted that an additional advantage achieved in practicinq our invention~wherein the flavor precursor liquid composition is coated unto uncooked proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuffs is that water evaporation is retarded when the resulting coated product is cooked in a microwave oven. This advantage, too, is unexpected, and unobvious and advantageous.
The principies given above are illustrated in the following e mples:

~ 3 i -32-EXAMPLE I
FORMATION OF SPRAY C~ILLED FAT ENCAPSULATED XYLOSE
- _ , Twelve hundred grams of xylose is admixed with 540 grams of 30% MYVEROL ~ 1806 and 1260 grams of DU~KEE 07 fat.
The spray chilling operation is carried out in accordance with the apparatus described for ~igure 4. The mixing is carried out in mixing kettle 601. The run time is 15 minutes. The yield is 1080 grams. The feed pump flow rate is 6.5 grams per minute.
Similarly fat encapsulated lysine and fat encapsulated sodium carbonate are produced.
The yield of the fat encapsulated lysine is 1730 grams.
The yield of the fat encapsulated sodium carbonate is 670 grams.
The feed temperature is between 80 and 90C.

2~38~87 ~33-~¦ EXAMPLE II
~1 1 ilPRODUCTION OF CHICKEN BROWNING MIX
I

¦ The objective of this experiment is to make a good browning mixture which works on a chicken breast filet cooked `I in a microwave oven !I Chicken breast filets were cut into 6 x 12 x 0 7 cm pieces.
0.4 Grams of a browning mix powder containing 2 I¦ grams encapsulated xylose, 2 grams encapsulated lysine and 2 ¦~ grams encapsulated sodium carbonate was added onto each piece ! of chicken breast.
The chicken breasts were placed into a 700 watt I microwave oven and the chicken pieces were cooked at medium power for 2 minutes. I
Aesthetically pleasing, edibly browned chicken filets were produced.
Substantially, identical results were created using I

~; the following chicken browning coating mixtures: ¦
i EXAMPLE II-2:

Ingredients Parts by Weight Xylose 2 grams I Lysine 2 grams Sodium Ca~bonate 2 grams METHOCEL~ A15-LV 2 grams METHOCELLUSE) ¦ EXAMPLE II-3:
I
l Ingredients Parts by Weight ! _ _ ~ Ribose 2 grams - ¦I Lysine 2 grams 50dium Carbonate 2 grams ~3~

EXAMPLE II-4:
Ingredients Parts by Weight Glucose 2 grams Lysine 2 grams Sodium Carbonate 2 grams EXAMPLE II-5: -Ingredients Parts by Weight Lactose 2 grams Lysine 2 grams Sodium Carbonate 2 grams EXAMPLE II-6:
Ingredients Parts by Weight Fructose 2 grams Lysine 2 grams Sodium Carbonate 2 grams EXAMPLE II-7:
Ingredients Parts by Weight Glucose 2 grams Cysteine 2 grams Sodium Carbonate 2 grams EXAMPLE II-8:
Ingredients Parts by Weight Xylose 2 grams Cysteine 2 grams Sodium Carbonate 2 grams EXAMPLE II-9:
Ingredients Parts by weight Fructose 2 grams Cysteine 2 grams Sodium Carbonate 2 grams EXAMPLE II-10:
Ingredients Parts by Weight Glucose 2 grams Methionine 2 grams Sodium Carb~ ate 2 grams EXAMPLE II~
Ingredients Parts by weight Xylose 2 grams Methionine 2 grams Sodium Carbonate 2 grams EXAMPLE II-12:
Ingredients Parts by Weight Fructose 2 grams Methionine 2 grams Sodium Carbonate 2 grams EXAMPLE III
CHICKEN BROWNING MIX

An example similar to Example II is carried out except the chicken breast filet size was larger (10 x 6 x 0.7 cm). The cooking time was 2 minutes at medium power using a CAROUSEL II SHARP ~ 700 watt microwave oven.
Each browning was prepared by grinding in a mortar and sprinkling on the surface of the chicken piece.
The coating mixes produced according to the procedure of Example I were as follows and the degree of browning was as follows:

DEGREE OF BROWNING
SAMPLE COMPOSITION AMOUNT ADDED (SCALED FROM 1 to 5 EXAMPLE III-l 2g lysine 0.4g +5 2g lysine 2g xylose 2g Na2Co3 2g lysine 0.4g +2 2g xylose lg lysine 2g lysine 0.4g ~1 2g xylose 0.5g citric acid 2g lysine 0.4g ~1 2g Ascorbic acid 2g Na2CO3 2g lysine 0.4g +2 lg Ascorbic acid 2g Na2Co3 2g lysine 0.4g ~1 2g Ascorbic acid lq Na~CO~

2 ~

DEGREE OF BROWNING
SAMPLE COMPOSITION AMOUNT ADDED (SCALED FROM 1 to 5) _ _ 2g lysine 0.4g +1 2g Ascorbic acid 0.5g citric acid _ _ 2g lysine 0.4g +1 2g Ascorbic acid 2g Na2Co3 2g YMB-2g(Yeast Extract) 0.4g ~5 2g xylose 2g Na2CO3 2g VEGAMINE ~ 128 0,4g +4 2g xylose 2g Na2Co3 EXAMPLE III-ll 2g Hydrolyzed Vegetable 0.4g +3 Protein 2g xylose 2g Na2Co3 2g Thiamine Na 0.4g ~2 2g xylose 2g Na2CO3 2g VEGAMINE(R)128 0.69 ~5 2g Fructose 2g Na2Co3 2g lysine 0.45g +5 2g xylose 2g Na2Co3 ~

Registered trademark for (Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone) manufactured by BASF) 2g lysine 0.45g ~5 2g Fructose 2g Na2CO3 la KOLLIDON ~ 25 (PVP) 33~7 The polyvinyl pyrrolidone as shown in Examples III-14 and III-15 increase the browning intensity of the browning mixes.
DEGREE OF BROWNING
SAMPLE COMPOSITION AMOUN? ADDED (SCALED FROM 1 to 5) 2g lysine 0.4g +2.5 3g glucose 3g Na2Co3 _ _ 2g VEGAMINE ~ 1280.4g +1 2g glucose 3g Na2Co3 2g VEGAMINE ~ 1280.49 - ~1 3g Fructose 3g Na2Co3 EXAMPLE III-l9 _ .
2g VEGAMINE ~ 1280.4g +1 3g Fructose 3g Na2Co3 0.5g CENTROLEX ~ 5 (Lecithin)

Claims (50)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A process for producing a cooked edibly browned storage-stable fibrous, proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff consisting essentially of the steps of:

(a) providing a particulate flowable flavoring powder consisting essentially of @ individually, discretely encapsulated Maillard reaction reagents, said encapsulated Maillard reaction reagents being (i) at least one encapsulated amino acid;
(ii) at least one encapsulated sugar optionally admixed with at least one Maillard reaction promoter; and, optionally (iii) at least one encapsulated pH adjustment agent;
and, optionally, .beta., at least one Maillard reaction promoter;
(b) providing an uncooked fibrous, proteinaceous, muscle tissue foodstuff containing more than 50% of water having an outer uncooked foodstuff surface;
(c) placing in intimate contact with at least a major portion of said uncooked foodstuff surface a flavor augmenting, imparting or enhancing quantity of said particulate flowable flavoring powder thereby forming a flavoring powder-coated foodstuff surface; and (d) exposing the flavoring powder-coated foodstuff surface to microwave radiation for a predetermined controlled period of time;

whereby the resulting product is caused to be edible as a foodstuff and the cooked, fibrous, proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff surface is edibly browned

2. The process of Claim 1 wherein the particulate flowable flavoring powder is in the form of a slurry with a solvent composition which is capable of raising the dielectric constant of the foodstuff to be cooked whereby the foodstuff to be cooked is completely cooked and edibly browned in a period of time under 600 seconds.

3. The process of Claim 1 wherein the particulate flowable flavoring powder is prepared according to a process comprising the steps of:

(i) heating a high melting point normally solid encapsulating material to melt the encapsulating material forming a molten encapsulating agent;
(ii) separately mixing each of the Maillard reaction reagent containing components of said Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition with discrete individual portions of said molten encapsulating agent; and (iii) spray chilling or drum chilling the Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition to provide discrete particles of solid Maillard reaction reagent-containing agent.

4. The process according to Claim 3 wherein the encapsulating material has a melting point of from 130°F to 195°F

5. The process according to Claim 3 wherein the encapsulating material is a fat or wax having a melting point in the range of from 130°F to 195°F.

6. The process according to Claim 3 wherein the encapsulating material is at least one hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, stearin, fatty glyceride ester or partial ester, or an edible wax.

7. The process according to Claim 6 wherein the encapsulating agent is a partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, a partially hydrogenated soybean oil, a partially hydrogenated palm oil, a glyceryl monostearate, a glyceryl monopalmitate, a propylene glycol monostearate, a polyglycerol stearate, a poly-oxyethylene sorbitol, a fatty acid ester of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, a polyglycerol ester of a fatty acid, beeswax, or carnauba wax, paraffin wax or candellila wax.

8. The process of Claim 1 wherein the particulate flowable flavoring powder is prepared according to a process comprising:

(i) heating a high melting point normally solid encapsulating material and at least one emulsifier to melt the encapsulating material and emulsifier;
(ii) admixing the melted encapsulating material and emulsifier;
(iii) separately mixing each component of the Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition with a texture conditioning agent;
(iv) separately mixing each component of the Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition and texture conditioning agent with discrete individual portions of the molten mixture of encapsulating agent and emulsifier to obtain homogeneous mixtures in the form of emulsions;
(v) mixing the resulting emulsions; and (vi) chilling the resulting Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition to provide discrete particles of solid encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition.

9. A process according to Claim 8 wherein the texture conditioning agent is a silicon dioxide, powdered cellulose, puffed dextrin, maltodextrin, or pregelatinized starch.

10. A process according to Claim 8 wherein the emulsifier is at least one mono- or diglyceride of a fatty acid

11. A process according to Claim 8 wherein the encapsulating material has a melting point of from 130°F to 195°F.

12. A process according to Claim 8 wherein the encapsulating material is a fat or wax having a melting point in the range of from 130°F to 195°F.

13. A process according to Claim 8 wherein the quantity of Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition is from about 20 up to about 40% of the weight of the homogeneous mixture.

14. A process according to Claim 8 wherein the quantity of texture conditioning agent is from about 0.1 to about one times the amount of Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition.

15. A process according to Claim 8 wherein the homogeneous mixture is chilled by spraying the mixture into a stream of gas, the gas having a temperature of from 40°F to 116°F.

16 A process according to Claim 15 wherein the spraying is carried out with a centrifugal atomizer

17 A process according to Claim 15 wherein the homogeneous mixture is admixed with compressed air and sprayed through a nozzle.

18. A process according to Claim 3 wherein the mixture is chilled by contact with a surface at a temperature less than the melting point of the encapsulating material to form flakes.

19. A process according to Claim 18 wherein the flakes are reduced in size to pass through a No. 10 screen

20. The process of Claim 2 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycerine, propylene glycol, mixtures of glycerine and propylene glycol, mixtures of glycerine and ethanol, and mixtures of propylene glycol and ethanol.

21 The process of Claim 1 wherein the sugar reactant is selected from the group consisting of rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, ribose, fructose and glucose and the amino acid reactant is selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, cysteine, methionine, yeast extract and hydrolyzed

22. The process of Claim 1 wherein one or more of the Maillard reaction reagents is in the form of particles which are reduced in size to pass through a 100 mesh screen prior to being encapsulated.

23. The process of Claim 1 wherein encapsulated along with the sugar is a Maillard reaction promoter and wherein the Maillard reaction promoter is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

24. The process of Claim 1 wherein a Maillard reaction promoter is contained in the particulate flowable flavoring powder and the promoter is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

25. The product produced according to the process of Claim 1.

26. The product produced according to the process of Claim 2.

27. The product produced according to the process of Claim 3.

28. The product produced according to the process of Claim 21.

29. Apparatus for carrying out the process of Claim 1 consisting essentially of:

(i) separate encapsulating means for encapsulating Maillard reaction reagents to produce separate batches of capsules each containing an individual Maillard reaction reagent;

(ii) mixing means for mixing the separate batches of capsules to form a single batch of flowable capsules;

(iii) coating means for coating the said batch of capsules prepared using said mixing means, onto an uncooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff, said coating means being downstream from said mixing means; and (v) microwave cooking means downstream from said coating means to cook the coated uncooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff whereby it becomes cooked, edibly browned and storage stable.

30. Apparatus for carrying out the process of Claim 2 consisting essentially of:
(i) separate encapsulating means for encapsulating Maillard reaction reagents to produce separate batches of capsules, each capsule including an individual Maillard reaction reagent;

(ii) first mixing means for mixing the separate batches of capsules to form a single batch of flowable capsules;

(iii) second mixing means downstream from said first mixing means for mixing said batch of flowable capsules with a solvent composition which is capable of raising the dielectric constant of a foodstuff to be cooked whereby the foodstuff to be cooked is completely cooked and edibly browned in a period of time under 600 seconds, said second mixing means capable of handling a slurry consisting of said solvent and said flowable capsules;

(iv) coating means for coating the slurry prepared using said second mixing means onto uncooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuffs; and (v) microwave cooking means downstream from said coating means to cook the coated uncooked fibrous proteinaceous muscle tissue foodstuff whereby said foodstuff becomes cooked, edibly browned and storage stable.

31. The apparatus of Claim 30 wherein the apparatus is specifically designed in order to utilize variables according to the mathematical equations:

wherein the term:

is the total microwave energy input during the process of our invention:

is the rate of heat input equivalent to the rate of energy use by the microwave oven:

R

is the effective radius of the food article being cooked:

K

is the heat transfer coefficient of the food article being cooked (the solid material):

is the viscosity of the coating immediately prior to cooking:

.lambda.1 is a proportionality constant which is a function of the coating thickness immediately prior to cooking and the geometry of the article being cooked as well as the geometry of the microwave oven:

Cp is the heat capacity of the coating immediately prior to cooking:
?

is the density of the liquid coating immediately prior to cooking:

is the temperature at the center of the food article being cooked:

is the temperature at the outer surface of the food article being cooked:
h?

is the convection heat transfer coefficient for the air layer surrounding the food article being cooked:

.lambda.2 is the proportionality constant for the radiation term for concentric spheres, the coating surrounding the uncooked food:

E

is the electric field strength:

?

is the frequency of the microwave heating means;

.epsilon.1 is the relative dielectric constant of the coating material; and .DELTA..THETA.

is the time of the microwave cooking.

32. A particulate flowable Maillard reaction reagent-con-taining product comprising @ an intimate admixture of discrete individual encapsulated Maillard reaction reagents and optionally .beta. at least one Maillard reaction promoter, the Maillard reaction reagents being:

(i) at least one encapsulated amino acid;

(ii) at least one encapsulated sugar optionally admixed with at least one Maillard reaction promoter; and, optionally;

(iii) at least one encapsulated pH adjustment agent.

33. The product of Claim 32 wherein the particulate flowable Maillard reaction reagent product is in the form of a slurry with a solvent composition with the solvent selected from the group consisting of glycerine, propylene glycol, mixtures of glycerine and propylene glycol, mixtures of glycerine and ethanol, and mixtures of propylene glycol and ethanol.

34. The product of Claim 32 wherein the sugar reactant is selected from the group consisting of rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, ribose, fructose and glucose and the amino acid reactant is selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, cysteine, methionine, yeast extract and hydrolyzed vegetable protein.

35. The product of Claim 33 wherein the sugar reactant is selected from the group consisting of rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, ribose, fructose and glucose and the amino acid reactant is selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, cysteine, methionine, yeast extract and hydrolyzed vegetable protein.

36. A particulate flowable flavoring powder is prepared according to a process comprising the steps of:
(i) providing the separate Maillard reaction components:
an amino acid:
a sugar and, optionally, a pH adjustment agent;
(ii) heating a high melting point normally solid encapsulating material to melt the encapsulating material forming a molten encapsulating agent:
(iii) separately mixing each of said separate Maillard reaction components with discrete individual portions of said molten encapsulating agent thereby forming separate encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent-containing compositions;
(iv) spray chilling or drum chilling each of the encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent-containing compositions to provide discrete particles of solid Maillard reaction reagent-containing agent;
and (v) mixing the resulting products.

37. The product of Claim 36 wherein the encapsulating material has a melting point of from 130°F to 195°F.

38. The product of Claim 36 wherein the encapsulating material is a fat or wax having a melting point in the range of from 130°F to 195°F.

39. The product of Claim 36 wherein the encapsulating material is at least one hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, stearin, fatty glyceride ester or partial ester or an edible wax.

40. The product of Claim 39 wherein the encapsulating agent is a partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, a partially hydrogenated soybean oil, a partially hydrogenated palm oil, a glyceryl monostearate, a glyceryl monopalmitate, a propylene glycol monostearate, a polyglycerol stearate, a polyoxyethylene sorbitol, a fatty acid ester of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, a polyglycerol ester of a fatty acid, beeswax or carnauba wax, paraffin wax or candellila wax.

41. A particulate flowable flavoring powder is prepared according to a process comprising:
(i) providing the separate Maillard reaction components:
an amino acid;
a sugar and, optionally, a pH adjustment agent;
(ii) heating a high melting point normally solid encapsulating material and at least one emulsifier to melt the encapsulating material and emulsifier;
(iii) admixing the melted encapsulating material and emulsifier;
(iv) separately mixing each of the Maillard reaction components with a texture conditioning agent to form Maillard reaction component-texture conditioning agent mixtures;
(v) separately mixing each of the Maillard reaction component-texture conditioning agent mixtures with discrete individual portions of the molten mixture of encapsulating agent and emulsifier to obtain homogeneous mixtures in the form of emulsions;
(vi) mixing the resulting emulsions;

(vii) chilling the resulting emulsions to provide discrete particles of solid encapsulated Maillard reaction reagent-containing composition; and (viii) mixing the resulting product.

42. A product according to Claim 41 wherein the texture conditioning agent is a silicon dioxide, powdered cellulose, puffed dextrin, maltodextrin or pregelatinized starch.

43. A product according to Claim 41 wherein the emulsifier is at least one mono- or diglyceride of a fatty acid.

44. A product according to Claim 41 wherein the encapsulating material has a melting point of from 130°F to 195°F

45. A product according to Claim 41 wherein the encapsulating material is a fat or wax having a melting point in the range of from 130°F to 195°F.

46. A product according to Claim 41 wherein the homogeneous mixture is chilled by spraying the mixture into a stream of gas, the gas having a temperature of from 40°F to 116°F.

47. A product according to Claim 46 wherein the spraying is carried out with a centrifugal atomizer.

48. A product according to Claim 46 wherein the homogeneous mixture is admixed with compressed air and sprayed through a nozzle.

49. A product according to Claim 36 wherein the mixture is chilled by contact with a surface at a temperature less than the melting point of the encapsulating material to form flakes.

50. A product according to Claim 36 wherein the flakes are reduced in size to pass through a No. 10 screen.