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

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 making thereof.

1 . A freeze-dried, aerated dairy or dairy substitute composition comprising:
 a dairy or dairy substitute ingredient;   an emulsifier; and   a viscosity enhancer,   wherein the dairy composition is pasteurized, has a hardness value from about 0.5 to about 8 pounds of force, and has a dissolvability in a range from about 0.1 to about 8 pounds force peak load.   
     
     
         2 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of lactylated mono and diglycerides, polysorbates, caseinate, whey proteins, egg white protein, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsifier is a lactylated mono and diglyceride. 
     
     
         4 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 3 , wherein the lactylated mono and di-glycerides are present in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 1% of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 3 , wherein the lactylated mono and diglyceride is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides, citrate acid esters of mono and diglycerides and distilled monoglycerides. 
     
     
         6 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 5 , wherein the lactylated mono and diglyceride is a lactic acid ester of mono glycerides or a blend of mono and diglycerides. 
     
     
         7 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1  further comprising a gelling agent, wherein the gelling agent is gelatin. 
     
     
         8 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dairy or dairy substitute ingredient is present in an amount of from about 60% to about 98% of the composition. 
     
     
         9 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancer is selected from the group consisting of starch, hydrocolloids such as carageenan, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dairy or dairy substitute ingredient is selected from the group consisting of milk, milk powder, yogurt, skim milk, milk proteins, hydrolyzed milk proteins, soy proteins, whey proteins, rice proteins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one sugar. 
     
     
         12 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity of the freeze-dried composition is from about 1000 to about 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         13 . The freeze-dried composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one probiotic. 
     
     
         14 . A freeze-dried, aerated yogurt composition comprising:
 a dairy or dairy substitute ingredient;   an emulsifier; and   a viscosity enhancer,   wherein the yogurt composition has a hardness value from about 0.5 to about 8 pounds of force, and has a dissolvability in a range from about 0.1 to about 8 pounds force peak load.   
     
     
         15 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14 , wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of lactylated mono and diglycerides, polysorbates, caseinate, whey proteins, egg white protein, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14 , wherein the emulsifier is a lactylated mono and diglyceride. 
     
     
         17 . The yogurt composition of  claim 16 , wherein the lactylated mono and di-glycerides are present in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 1% of the composition. 
     
     
         18 . The yogurt composition of  claim 16 , wherein the lactylated mono and diglyceride is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides, citrate acid esters of mono and diglycerides and distilled monoglycerides. 
     
     
         19 . The yogurt composition of  claim 16 , wherein the lactylated mono and diglyceride is a lactic acid ester of mono glycerides or a blend of mono and diglycerides. 
     
     
         20 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14  further comprising a gelling agent, wherein the gelling agent is gelatin. 
     
     
         21 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14 , wherein the dairy or dairy substitute ingredient is present in amount of from about 60% to about 98% of the composition. 
     
     
         22 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14 , wherein the viscosity enhancer is selected from the group consisting of starch, hydrocolloids such as carageenan, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14 , wherein the dairy or dairy substitute ingredient is selected from the group consisting of milk, milk powder, yogurt, skim milk, milk proteins, hydrolyzed milk proteins, soy proteins, whey proteins, rice proteins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14  further comprising at least one sugar. 
     
     
         25 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14 , wherein the viscosity of the yogurt composition is from about 1000 to about 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         26 . The yogurt composition of  claim 14  further comprising at least one probiotic.