EDIBLE COMPOSITIONS INCLUDING FUNGAL MYCELIUM PROTEIN
An edible meat substitute product includes a fibrous mycelium mass in a range of 10 wt % to 100 wt %. The fibrous mycelium mass has a protein content greater than 40 wt % of a dry mass of the fibrous mycelium mass. The edible meat substitute product includes a water content in a range of 0 w % to 90 wt %.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A method of producing a fungal biomass, the method comprising:
cultivating fungi in a growth medium to produce a fungal biomass; and
harvesting the fungal biomass,
wherein the fungi are Neurospora fungi.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the fungi are Neurospora crassa fungi.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the harvesting the fungal biomass comprises vacuum filtration.
24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising forming the harvested fungal biomass into a food product.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the forming the harvested fungal biomass into a food product comprises extruding, sheeting, or molding the harvested fungal biomass.
26 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising cooking the food product, freeze-drying the food product, dehydrating the food product, or frying the food product.
27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising drying the harvested fungal biomass.
28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising grinding the dried and harvested fungal biomass to a powder.
29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising using the powder as a protein ingredient in a food product.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the food product is for human consumption.
31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the food product is animal feed.
32 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the growth medium comprises a sugar, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a phosphate-containing compound.
33 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the growth medium is supplemented with an organic nitrogen source.
34 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the growth medium is supplemented with one or more of gaseous ammonia, liquid ammonia, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, sodium nitrate, yeast extract, urea, and peptone.
35 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising enhancing the flavor of the harvested biomass.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein enhancing the flavor of the harvested biomass comprises adding an oil to the harvested biomass.