Freeze-dried, dairy or dairy-substitute compositions and methods of making and using

Abstract

The present invention comprises a freeze-dried, aerated dairy or dairy-substitute composition comprising a dairy or dairy-substitute ingredient and an emulsifier and methods of using and making thereof.

1 . A dairy or dairy substitute product comprising a blend in an amount from about 60% to about 90% of the product, a hardness value from about 0.5 to about 8 pounds of force, and a dissolvability in a range from about 0.1 to about 8 pounds force peak load, the blend selected from the group consisting of a dairy ingredient, a dairy substitute ingredient, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity of the product ranges from about 1000 to about 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the density of the product is at least about 0.1 g/cc. 
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the product is freeze-dried. 
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 1  further comprising at least one prebiotic. 
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 1  further comprising a viscosity when it is wet from about 30,000 to about 60,000 cp at a 10 rpm speed of a spindle 6 in a Brookfield viscometer. 
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a yogurt product. 
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the product has a hardness value from about 1.5 to about 5.5 peak load. 
     
     
         9 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the blend is present in the product in an amount from about 70% to about 85%. 
     
     
         10 . The product of  claim 1  further comprising at least one probiotic. 
     
     
         11 . A dairy or dairy substitute product comprising a blend in an amount from 60% to 90% of the product, a hardness value of 0.5 to 8 pounds of force, and a viscosity in a range from about 1000 to about 500,000 cp, the blend selected from the group consisting of a dairy ingredient, a dairy substitute ingredient, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the product comprises a dissolvability in a range from about 0.1 to about 8 pounds force peak load. 
     
     
         13 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the density of the product is at least about 0.1 g/cc. 
     
     
         14 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the product is freeze-dried. 
     
     
         15 . The product of  claim 11  further comprising at least one prebiotic. 
     
     
         16 . The product of  claim 11  further comprising a viscosity when it is wet from about 30,000 to about 60,000 cp at a 10 rpm speed of a spindle 6 in a Brookfield viscometer. 
     
     
         17 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the product is a yogurt product. 
     
     
         18 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the product has a hardness value from about 1.5 to about 5.5 peak load. 
     
     
         19 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the blend is present in the product in an amount from about 70% to about 85%. 
     
     
         20 . The product of  claim 11  further comprising at least one probiotic.