EDIBLE AERIAL MYCELIA AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME
An improved mycelium in the form of an edible aerial mycelium that is suitable for use as a food product, including a food ingredient for making mycelium-based food, such as bacon. A method of making an edible aerial mycelium suitable for use as a food product, including a food ingredient. An edible product containing an edible aerial mycelium, and a method of making an edible product comprising an edible aerial mycelium, such as a mycelium-based bacon. A mycelium-based food product having a texture that is analogous to a whole-muscle meat product, wherein that whole-muscle meat product is bacon.
1 . A method of processing an edible aerial mycelium, comprising:
providing a panel comprising an edible aerial mycelium; and
selectively hardening at least a portion of an outer surface of the panel relative to a remainder of the panel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein hardening comprises drying at least the portion of the outer surface.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein drying comprises drying with at least one of radiation drying, convection drying, conduction drying, freeze drying, microwave drying, evaporative drying, and vacuum drying.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the radiation drying comprises infrared radiation drying.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the remainder of the panel comprises a core and a base, further comprising fracturing at least the portion of the outer surface from the core and the base of the panel.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein fracturing comprises mechanical shearing.
7 . The method of claim 6 , where mechanical sheering comprises sheering with at least one of a compressed air cutter, a knife, a fluted roller, a blade, a wire, and a saw.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the edible aerial mycelium is suitable for use in manufacturing a food product.
9 . The edible aerial mycelium of claim 8 , wherein the food product is a mycelium-based food product.
10 . The edible aerial mycelium of claim 9 , wherein the mycelium-based food product is a seafood alternative product.
11 . The edible aerial mycelium of claim 10 , wherein the mycelium-based food product is a smoked salmon alternative product.
12 . A method of processing an edible aerial mycelium, comprising:
providing a panel comprising an edible aerial mycelium, wherein the edible aerial mycelium comprises a growth grain;
compressing at least a portion of the panel; and
cutting at least a portion of the panel in a direction substantially parallel to the growth grain.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein cutting further comprises cutting at least a portion of the panel to form at least one strip.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one strip comprises a thickness, and wherein the thickness of the at least one strip is at least about 1 inch, at least about 2 inches, or at least about 3 inches.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one strip further comprises a length, wherein the method further comprises forming at least one block by cutting through the thickness and along the length of the at least one strip.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein forming at least one block comprises forming a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks comprising a standard shrimp size.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising rolling the at least one block into an approximately cylindrical shape.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein rolling comprises positioning the at least one block between a first conveyer and a second conveyer, each conveyer operating at a different speed relative to the other.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the edible aerial mycelium is suitable for use in manufacturing a food product.
20 . The edible aerial mycelium of claim 19 , wherein the food product is a mycelium-based food product.
21 . The edible aerial mycelium of claim 20 , wherein the mycelium-based food product is a shrimp alternative product.
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising at least one of:
boiling the edible aerial mycelium in an aqueous saline solution;
brining the edible aerial mycelium in a brining solution; and
drying the edible aerial mycelium.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the aqueous saline solution and the brining solution comprises at least one additive.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the at least one additive is a flavorant, a colorant, or both.
25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising further drying the panel to a desired water activity level.