Apparatus and method for cooking food products for consumption

US6082251A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Riviana Foods, Inc. · US
• SATAKE CORPORATION · JP

Inventors

• John Hugh Kendall · Cypress, US
• Banvir B. Mohindra · Houston, US
• Duane Stephen Rutherford · Houston, US
• Satoru Satake · Tokyo, JP
• Sigeharu Kanamoto · Mihara, JP
• Katsuyuki Kumamoto · Mihara, JP

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 24, 1997
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2000
• Expiry date: Mar 24, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02A40/90
• WIPO field: Food chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for cooking food products. In particular, cereal grains and rice products may be cooked pursuant to a multi-step process in which rice is first prewashed, presteamed, and then allowed to absorb water in a steeping step for a short time before being cooked in a steam cooker. The rice may be passed along to various dryers, and later dried and packaged for use by the consumer. Further, an apparatus and method are disclosed for using and recirculating water in a more efficient and economical manner in a food processing operation.