Method for Providing a Freshly Ground Flavoring to Food Products

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to providing a freshly ground flavoring having one or more non-natural components to a food. In one aspect, an engineered flavoring pellet is ground into a particulate flavoring and applied to a food to freshly season the food. There is a relatively short temporal relationship between the grinding of the artificial spice or flavoring and its application to the food.

1 . A method for providing a freshly ground flavoring to a food product, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an engineered 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 food.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food product is heated prior to step c) of applying said particulate flavoring to said food.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said flavoring pellet at step a) comprises a plurality of first engineered 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  farther 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 engineered pellets having a first flavor and a plurality of second engineered pellets having a second flavor.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said first engineered pellets have one or more substantially similar physical characteristics selected from size, shape, and color.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said second engineered 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 is pre-flavored.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food is selected from one or more meats selected from eggs, chicken, beef, pork, turkey, seafood, and fish.  
   
   
       16 . The method in  claim 1  wherein said food is selected from one or more cooked meats selected from eggs, chicken, beef, pork, turkey, seafood, and fish.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food is selected from one or more foods selected from soup, salad, and coffee.  
   
   
       18 . The method in  claim 1  wherein said food comprises one or more vegetables.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food is selected from one or more sweet snack foods selected from ice cream.  
   
   
       20 . The method in  claim 1  wherein said food is selected from pastries, cake, pie, and cobbler.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said flavoring pellet at step a) is provided in a grinder.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said converting at step b) is provided without a grinder.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said food at step c) comprises a ready-to-eat food.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step d) of consuming said food wherein said consuming at step d) occurs within less than 1 hour of said converting in step b).  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said pellet at step a) comprises one or more dairy-based flavorings selected from ranch, sour cream and onion, cheese, and butter.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said pellet at step a) comprises a tomato based flavoring selected from barbecue, pizza, catsup, spicy, tomato, and tomato/basil.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said pellet at step a) comprises one or more citrus based flavorings selected from limon, lemon, and lime.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said pellet at step a) comprises one or more fruit based flavorings selected from berry, cherry, strawberry, kiwi, raspberry, coconut, orange, blueberry, banana, boysenberry, watermelon, and pumpkin.  
   
   
       29 . A method for providing a freshly ground flavoring to a food product, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of engineered seasoning pellets;    b) grinding said pellets onto a food; and    c) consuming the food within 10 minutes of said grinding.    
   
   
       30 . A kit for providing a freshly ground flavoring to a food, said kit comprising: 
 a) providing a plurality of engineered seasoning pellets; and    b) a ready-to-eat food, wherein said food is in close proximity to said pellet.