Kit and method for providing a freshly ground flavoring to food products

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to providing a freshly ground flavoring to shelf-stable ready-to-eat food products. In one aspect, a flavoring pellet is ground into a particulate flavoring and applied to a food product to freshly season the food product. The food product can optionally be heated before or after the flavoring is applied. In one aspect, a kit for providing a freshly ground flavoring to a food product is disclosed.

1 . A method for providing a freshly ground flavoring to a food product, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a shelf-stable flavoring pellet;    b) converting said flavoring pellet temporally coincident with or after a point of sale into a smaller pellet fragment; and    c) applying said smaller pellet fragment to a shelf-stable and ready-to-eat food product.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food product is heated prior to step c) of applying said particulate flavoring to said food product.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said flavoring pellet at step a) comprises a plurality of first pellets having a first flavor and wherein step a) further comprises providing one or more unpelletized flavors.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said flavoring pellets have one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising an unpelletized flavor having one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said flavoring pellets provided at step a) comprises a plurality of first pellets having a first flavor and a plurality of second pellets having a second flavor.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said first pellets have one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said second pellets have one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said point of sale is a convenience store.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said point of sale is a grocery store.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said point of sale is a restaurant.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said point of sale is a concession stand.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said point of sale is a kiosk.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food product is pre-flavored.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food product is selected from one or more savory snack foods selected from potato chips, tortilla chips, and corn chips.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food product is selected from one or more savory snack foods selected from nut-based chips, puffed snacks, rice snacks, rice cakes, nuts, pretzels, protein-based snacks, and crackers.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food product is selected from one or more sweet snack foods selected from breakfast cereals, granola bars, confection bars, dried fruits, and cookies.  
   
   
       18 . The method in  claim 1  wherein said food product is selected from breadsticks, vegetables, popped popcorn, and nuts.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said flavoring pellet at step a) is provided in a grinder.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said converting at step b) is provided without a grinder.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food product at step c) comprises a low-moisture food product.  
   
   
       22 . A kit for providing a freshly ground flavoring a food product, said kit comprising: 
 a) a shelf-stable flavoring pellet;    b) a packaged food product, wherein said food product is shelf-stable and ready to eat, wherein said packaged food product is in close proximity to said pellet.    
   
   
       23 . The kit of  claim 22  further comprising a grinder.  
   
   
       24 . The kit of  claim 22  further comprising a grater.  
   
   
       25 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein said packaged food product and said flavoring pellet are packaged together.  
   
   
       26 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein said packaged food product and said flavoring pellet are packaged separately.  
   
   
       27 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein said flavoring pellets are packaged in a variety-pack.  
   
   
       28 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein said packaged food product is pre-flavored.  
   
   
       29 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein said flavoring pellet comprises a plurality of pellets having a first flavor and further comprises providing one or more unpelletized flavors.  
   
   
       30 . The kit of  claim 29  wherein said flavoring pellets have one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       31 . The kit of  claim 29  wherein said unpelletized flavors have one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       32 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein said flavoring pellets provided at step a) comprises a plurality of first pellets having a first flavor and a plurality of second pellets having a second flavor.  
   
   
       33 . The kit of  claim 32  wherein said first pellets have one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       34 . The kit of  claim 32  wherein said second pellets have one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       35 . The kit of  claim 32  wherein promotional information provides instructions or suggestions for using the kit.  
   
   
       36 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein said food product comprises a low-moisture food product.  
   
   
       37 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein said flavoring pellets are packaged as a multi-pack having a plurality of individually packaged servings of the same flavor.