Frozen granular cheese products for baked pizzas

摘要

There is disclosed a granular cheese product comprising frozen cheese granules with the outsides of the individual granules coated with a frozen aqueous layer containing at least one food additive, the coated frozen granules being in essentially free-flowing condition. There is also disclosed a method of producing baked pizza using such granular product. There is also disclosed a method of producing baked pizza comprising the steps of:(a) preparing cheese in the form of fresh granules, said cheese consisting of at least one variety of mozzarella, or a blend of mozzarella with other cheese, said blend being adapted for use on baked pizza;(b) freezing said cheese granules by individual quick freezing thereof, the cheese granules being frozen at a temperature below -10°F which freezes the granules so rapidly that the individual granules retain essentially the same moisture content and distribution as before freezing, the resulting frozen granules being in free-flowing condition;(c) maintaining said granules in frozen free-­flowing condition with said moisture substantially unchanged until the granules are used;(d) applying the granules so maintained to pizzas being prepared for baking without complete thawing of the granules, at least the interiors thereof being frozen; and(e) baking the pizzas with the applied unthawed granules and obtaining baked pizzas of good appearance and quality.