Dry blend for making analogue cheese

Abstract

Disclosed herein are cheese analogue compositions and the manufacturing processes in making the same with characteristics similar to that of natural cheeses. These products have properties such as melt, stretch, firmness, body and shredability similar to natural cheese products.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend comprising:
 a. 40%-95% starch;   b. 0%-10% emulsifying salts; and   c. 0%-20% stabilizers,
 wherein said dry blend is homogenously blended and filled into said pre-filled cheese analogue package. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a. 55%-95% starch;   b. 0%-10% emulsifying salts; and   c. 0%-10% stabilizers,
 wherein said dry blend is homogenously blended and filled into said pre-filled cheese analogue package. 
   
     
     
         3 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 2 , comprising:
 a. 65%-90% starch;   b. 0%-10% emulsifying salts; and   c. 0%-5% stabilizers.   
     
     
         4 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 3 , comprising:
 a. 75%-85% starch;   b. 0%-10% emulsifying salts; and   c. 0%-3% stabilizers.   
     
     
         5 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said package further comprises whey. 
     
     
         6 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 5 , comprising:
 a. 40%-70% starch;   b. 0%-25% whey;   c. 0%-10% emulsifying salts; and   d. 0%-20% stabilizers.   
     
     
         7 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 6 , comprising
 a. 40%-70% starch;   b. 5%-25% whey;   c. 0%-10% emulsifying salts; and   d. 2%-13% stabilizers.   
     
     
         8 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 7 , comprising
 a. 45%-65% starch;   b. 14%-20% whey;   c. 2%-8% emulsifying salts; and   d. 3%-12% stabilizers.   
     
     
         9 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 6 , comprising
 a. 45%-65% starch;   b. 15%-30% whey;   c. 0%-10% emulsifying salts; and   d. 0%-20% stabilizers.   
     
     
         10 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 9 , comprising
 a. 50%-60% starch;   b. 20%-25% whey;   c. 4%-8% emulsifying salts; and   d. 2%-11% stabilizers.   
     
     
         11 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said blend further comprises an acidulant. 
     
     
         12 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said blend contains 0%-3% of an acidulant. 
     
     
         13 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said acidulant is chosen from acetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, phosphoric acid, and tartaric acid. 
     
     
         14 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said acidulant is chosen from citric acid and acetic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said blend further comprises casein. 
     
     
         16 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said emulsifying salts are chosen from sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium citrate, trisodium phosphate, and disodium phosphate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said blend further comprises lecithin. 
     
     
         18 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said blend further comprises coloring. 
     
     
         19 . The pre-filled cheese analogue package having a dry blend as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said blend further comprises a preservative. 
     
     
         20 . An analogue cheese comprising the dry blend as recited in  claim 1 , a fat, water, and, optionally, cheese and/or cheese curds. 
     
     
         21 . A method of making an analogue cheese comprising: combining a dry blend as recited in  claim 1 , a fat, water, and, optionally, cheese and/or cheese curds; mixing the ingredients to form a mixture; and heating and cooling the mixture to provide an analogue cheese.