MSU Technologies

070146: Chicken Noodle Bites

Description:

The frozen snack foods segment is a well established category of frozen foods market. Products in the category aim to provide a tasty, fast, and convenient snack to consumers short on time. The category is comprised of, but not limited to products like pizza rolls, pizza bites, egg rolls and min-burritos.

Description

This invention conveniently miniaturizes a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup into a nutritious, microwaveable, bite-size, frozen snack. The novel aspects of the invention are the broth formulation and the processing technique, which provide the flavor and texture that closely resemble a bowl of hearty chicken noodle soup. Semi-continuous, triple, cold-forming extrusion is employed to blend, form, and position and place the components of the product. Additionally, the broth formulation is made using a reversible, thermal, modified, cellulosic gel that prevents it from soaking into other ingredients, and causes it to flow during chewing. The ingredients include lean ground chicken, ground vegetables, and a thick and flavorful broth that does not drip, burn the mouth, or blowout the filling while microwaving. All of these ingredients are stuffed into a small pasta shell shaped like a soup can.

Line extension possibilities enabled by the processing technology include Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup Bites, Broccoli Cheddar Bites, Chili Bites, and French Onion Bites.

Benefits

Award-winning taste: Taste and texture of a spoonful of hearty chicken noodle soup.
Healthy: Low fat with zero grams of saturated and trans fats, contains 15 grams of protein per serving, contains 35 mg omega-3 fatty acids per serving, thirty percent (30%) of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, and 4 grams of dietary fiber per serving.
Convenient: Microwavable and bite-size for quick snacking, while at home or on the go.

Applications

As a food-industry product, the invention will enable tasty, quick, convenient snacking while at home or on the go. Could also be employed as an appetizer in restaurants.

IP Protection Status

Patent pending

Additional Information

Chicken Noodle Bites won the 1st place award in a product development competition held by the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) in 2007.