Foaming ingredient and powders containing it

Abstract

The invention relates to a powdered soluble foamer ingredient for producing enhanced foam in foodstuffs and beverages. The particles of the powdered soluble foamer ingredient are formed of a matrix containing carbohydrate and protein and entrapped gas. The gas is pressurized to release upon addition of liquid at least about 1 ml of gas at ambient conditions per gram of soluble foamer ingredient. When used in soluble creamer powders, enhanced amounts of foam are generated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A powdered soluble foamer ingredient which comprises a matrix containing carbohydrate and protein and entrapped gas, the gas being present in an amount to release upon addition of liquid at least about 1 ml of gas ambient conditions per gram of soluble foamer ingredient.  
     
     
         2 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , which has a density of 200 g/l to 500 g/l.  
     
     
         3 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , which has a density of 300 g/l to 400 g/l.  
     
     
         4 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , in which the powder soluble foamer ingredient is a soluble creamer ingredient.  
     
     
         5 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , which contains fat.  
     
     
         6 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , which comprises entrapped gas in an amount to release upon addition of liquid at least about 1.5 ml of gas at ambient conditions per gram of soluble foamer ingredient.  
     
     
         7 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , which comprises entrapped gas in an amount to release upon addition of liquid at from about 6 ml to about 18 ml of gas at ambient conditions per gram of soluble foamer ingredient.  
     
     
         8 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , in which the matrix comprises 40% to 98% by weight of carbohydrate.  
     
     
         9 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , in which the matrix comprises from 60% to 95% by weight of carbohydrate.  
     
     
         10 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , in which the protein includes milk proteins.  
     
     
         11 . A powder soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1 , having a closed porosity.  
     
     
         12 . A powdered soluble foamer ingredient according to  claim 1  formed by subjecting porous particles of the matrix to an atmosphere of the gas at a raised pressure and a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the particles, followed by quenching or curing of the gas subjected particles.  
     
     
         13 . A soluble creamer powder which comprises a soluble creamer ingredient having a matrix containing carbohydrate and protein and entrapped gas according to  claim 1 , the soluble creamer powder generating a foam of volume at least about 5 ml/g of creamer powder when reconstituted in liquid.  
     
     
         14 . A powder according to  claim 13 , in which the soluble creamer ingredient comprises 15% to 50% by weight of the powder.  
     
     
         15 . A soluble food powder which comprises a soluble foamer ingredient having a matrix containing carbohydrate and protein and entrapped gas according to  claim 1 , the soluble food powder generating a foam volume of at least about 5 ml/g of soluble foamer ingredient when reconstituted in liquid.