Title: Process for making flavorless food extenders derived from peanuts, and a method of recovering peanut oil

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Claims: 1. A process for producing flavorless thermostable fat-free peanut flakes having utility as a high protein food extender comprising the steps of:

coarsely grinding blanched unroasted peanuts so as to release only a minimum amount of peanut oil;

mixing one part of the coarsely ground peanuts with one to two parts of water by weight;

disintegrating the solids and homogenizing the mixture to form a suspension of finely divided peanut particles and emulsified oil;

drying the emulsion-suspension on a drum dryer to form flakes; and

extracting oil from the flakes with a solvent and evaporating residual solvent from the flakes to obtain fatfree high protein flakes.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising the step of evaporating solvent from the extracted oil to obtain oil of good quality.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to the said step of mixing coarsely ground peanuts with water said method comprises removing a portion of the oil from the peanuts by means of pressure in a manner which does not cause browning discoloration.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising the step of pulverizing said flakes into a powder to form a flour of high protein.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to said step of grinding said method comprises removing the skins and hearts from the peanuts.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to said step of drying the method comprises adding a flavoring and/or coloring agent to the suspension.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to said step of drying the method comprises adding proteins, carbohydrates, cereal flours, amino acids, or other nutrients to the suspension.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of grinding and homogenizing is accomplished in a colloid mill having rotor and stator surfaces capable of disintegrating solids.

Other info:

Inventors: Mitchell, Jr., Jack H. (Clemson, SC, US)

Application Number: 545446
Filing Date: 1975-01-30
Publication_date: 1976-03-30
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 426/250 426/417, 426/457, 426/632
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3294549	Dec, 1966	Vix et al.	426/417.
3295985	Jan, 1967	Cavanagh	426/417.
3645752	Feb, 1972	Baxley	426/632.
3689287	Sep, 1972	Mitchell	426/457.
3800056	Mar, 1974	Mitchell	426/632.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Hoffman, James R.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Collard; Allison C.