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.

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 fn 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 . (canceled)  
   
   
       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.