METHOD FOR GROWING FUNGAL MYCELIUM AND FORMING EDIBLE PRODUCTS THEREFROM

1 . A method, comprising:

growing fungal cells in a growth media such that the fungal cells produce mycelium, the growth media comprising a sugar, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a phosphate-containing compound;

separating the mycelium from the growth media; and

concentrating the mycelium to obtain a fibrous mycelium mass having a protein content of greater than 40 wt % of a dry mass of the mycelium.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing 0.01 vol % to 95 vol % of a broth comprising the fungal cells and the growth media; and

adding fresh growth media to a container containing the broth.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sugar is in a range of 5-50 g/L, the nitrogen-containing compound is in a range of 0.5-10 g/L, and the phosphate-containing compound is in a range of 0.1-5 g/L.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sugar comprises at least one of sucrose, glucose, fructose, or molasses.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen-containing compound comprises at least one of ammonium hydroxide, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, urea, yeast extract, or peptone.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the phosphorous-containing compound comprises at least one of potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, or phosphoric acid.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

lysing cell walls of the mycelium.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adding food additives to the mycelium, the food additives comprising at least one of vegetable proteins, animal proteins, fats, emulsifiers, thickeners, stabilizers, or flavorings.

9 . A method of forming an edible food product comprising:

providing a fibrous mycelium mass having a protein content of greater than 40 wt % of a dry mass of the mycelium;

adding food additives to the fibrous mycelium mass to produce a biomass; and

forming the biomass into an edible food product.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the biomass into an edible food product further comprises:

dehydrating the biomass; and

pulverizing the biomass into a powder.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

incorporating the powder into a baked food product.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the edible food product is at least one of a chip, a protein bar, a jerky, a tortilla, a bread, or a cracker.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

molding the biomass into a shape.

14 . A method of forming an edible meat substitute product comprising:

providing a fibrous mycelium mass having a protein content of greater than 40 wt % of a dry mass of the mycelium;

adding food additives to the fibrous mycelium mass to produce a biomass; and

forming the biomass into the edible meat substitute product.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the biomass into the edible meat substitute product comprises:

adding at least one soluble protein to the biomass; and

molding the biomass into the edible meat substitute product.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the biomass into the edible meat substitute product comprises:

adding at least one thickener to the biomass; and

molding the biomass into the edible meat substitute product.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the biomass into the edible meat substitute product comprises:

adding at least one fat source to the biomass; and

molding the biomass into the edible meat substitute product.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

adding seasonings to the biomass.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the edible meat substitute product comprises at least one of a chicken substitute product, a beef substitute product, a pork substitute product, a veal substitute product, or a fish substitute product.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the edible meat substitute product comprises 10 wt % to 90 wt % of the fibrous mycelium mass.