Methods and apparatuses for thermal treatment of foods and other biomaterials, and products obtained thereby

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for thermally treating flowable materials using electromagnetic radiation, and foods and materials obtained thereby. Also provided are methods of continuous flow thermal treatment of biomaterials, apparatuses for performing the same, and products prepared using the methods and/or apparatuses.

1 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A commercially sterile biomaterial having one or more quality attributes that is preserved to a greater extent as compared to a reference biomaterial of the same type as the commercially sterile biomaterial, the commercially sterile biomaterial having been sterilized as a flowable material in a process comprising a heating step in which the flowable material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation and a mixing step in which at least a portion of the flowable material reaches thermal equalization, the reference biomaterial having been sterilized using a thermal treatment method comprising contacting of the reference biomaterial with a surface whose temperature is consistently higher than a predetermined treatment temperature for the reference biomaterial. 
     
     
         61 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more quality attributes of the commercially sterile biomaterial are preserved for at least 12 weeks of storage at 25° C. 
     
     
         62 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more quality attributes is selected from the group consisting of nutrient content, color, texture, flavor and general appearance. 
     
     
         63 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 60 , wherein the commercially sterile biomaterial and the reference biomaterial are one of hermetically packaged, shelf stable, and both hermetically packaged and shelf stable. 
     
     
         64 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 60 , wherein the commercially sterile biomaterial and the reference biomaterial are sweet potato. 
     
     
         65 . A commercially sterile biomaterial having one or more quality attributes that is preserved to a greater extent as compared to a reference biomaterial of the same type as the commercially sterile biomaterial, the commercially sterile biomaterial having been sterilized as a flowable material in a process comprising a heating step in which the flowable material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation and a mixing step in which at least a portion of the flowable material reaches thermal equalization, the reference biomaterial having been sterilized using a thermal treatment method comprising contacting of the reference biomaterial with a surface whose temperature is consistently higher than a predetermined treatment temperature for the reference biomaterial, wherein:
 (i) the commercially sterile biomaterial and the reference biomaterial are one of packaged for refrigeration, hermetically packaged, shelf stable, both packaged for refrigeration and shelf stable, and both hermetically packaged and shelf stable;   (ii) the commercially sterile biomaterial and the reference biomaterial are sweet potato or white potato; and   (iii) wherein no additives that increase a product's stability under thermal treatment have been added to the commercially sterile biomaterial.   
     
     
         66 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 65 , wherein the commercially sterile biomaterial and the reference biomaterial are a puree. 
     
     
         67 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 65 , wherein the commercially sterile biomaterial contains one or more of water, salt, spices, flavors, peeling agents, and sodium acid pyrophosphate or other anti-browning additives. 
     
     
         68 . A thermally treated biomaterial having a quality profile comprising one or more quality attributes that matches a quality profile of an untreated biomaterial of the same type, wherein the thermally treated biomaterial is commercially sterile and shelf stable, the thermally treated biomaterial having been sterilized as a flowable material in a process comprising a heating step in which the flowable material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation and a mixing step in which at least a portion of the flowable material reaches thermal equalization. 
     
     
         69 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 68 , wherein the quality attribute is selected from the group consisting of nutrient content, color, texture, flavor and general appearance. 
     
     
         70 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 69 , wherein the thermally treated biomaterial and the untreated biomaterial are hermetically packaged. 
     
     
         71 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 68 , wherein the thermally treated biomaterial and the untreated biomaterial are sweet potato. 
     
     
         72 . A thermally treated biomaterial having a quality profile comprising one or more quality attributes that matches a quality profile of an untreated biomaterial of the same type, wherein the thermally treated biomaterial and the untreated biomaterial are:
 (i) one of commercially sterile, packaged for refrigeration, hermetically packaged, shelf stable, and any combination thereof; and   (ii) sweet potato or white potato;   (iii) wherein no additives that increase a product's stability under thermal treatment have been added to the thermally treated biomaterial, the thermally treated biomaterial having been sterilized as a flowable material in a process comprising a heating step in which the flowable material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation and a mixing step in which at least a portion of the flowable material reaches thermal equalization.   
     
     
         73 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 72 , wherein the thermally treated biomaterial and the untreated biomaterial are a puree. 
     
     
         74 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 72 , wherein the thermally treated biomaterial contains one or more of water, salt, spices, flavors, peeling agents, and sodium acid pyrophosphate or other anti-browning additives. 
     
     
         75 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 65 , wherein the commercially sterile biomaterial is packaged as a single-serving size. 
     
     
         76 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 72 , wherein the thermally treated biomaterial is packaged as a single-serving size. 
     
     
         77 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 65 , wherein a volume of the packaged biomaterial exceeds a volume of a Type 10 can. 
     
     
         78 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 72 , wherein a volume of the packaged biomaterial exceeds a volume of a Type 10 can. 
     
     
         79 . A commercially sterile shelf stable biomaterial, the commercially sterile shelf stable biomaterial having been sterilized as a flowable material in a process comprising a heating step in which the flowable material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation and a mixing step in which at least a portion of the flowable material reaches thermal equalization, wherein the biomaterial comprises sweet potato or white potato and has a shelf life of 24 weeks or more, and further wherein no preservatives or acidulants that enhance stability of the biomaterial to thermal treatment have been added to the biomaterial, but wherein optionally the biomaterial can comprise one or more of water, salt, spices, flavors, peeling agents, and sodium acid pyrophosphate and other anti-browning additives. 
     
     
         80 . The commercially sterile shelf stable biomaterial of  claim 79 , wherein the biomaterial is a puree. 
     
     
         81 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 60 , wherein the commercially sterile biomaterial is a pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         82 . The commercially sterile biomaterial of  claim 60 , wherein the commercially sterile biomaterial is a pharmaceutical in compliance with one or more pharmaceutical regulations. 
     
     
         83 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 68 , wherein the thermally treated biomaterial is a pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         84 . The thermally treated biomaterial of  claim 68 , wherein the thermally treated biomaterial is in compliance with one or more pharmaceutical regulations.