Processed cauliflower and cauliflower processing method

Abstract

A processed cauliflower mixture includes a plurality of cauliflower stem pieces cut from a cauliflower stem, a plurality of cauliflower crown pieces cut from a cauliflower crown, and packaging containing a mixture of the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces. The cauliflower stem is treated, prior to being cut into the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces, such that the cauliflower stem mimics the visual and tactile effects of the cauliflower crown.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A processed cauliflower mixture, the mixture comprising:
 a plurality of cauliflower stem pieces cut from a cauliflower stem;   a plurality of cauliflower crown pieces cut from a cauliflower crown; and   packaging containing a mixture of the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces, wherein   the cauliflower stem is treated, prior to being cut into the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces, such that the cauliflower stem mimics the visual and tactile effects of the cauliflower crown.   
     
     
         2 . The processed cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces are sealed within the packaging and are indistinguishable in visual appearance. 
 
     
     
         3 . The processed cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 a hydraulic fracturing pressure and an instantaneous vacuum pressure have been applied to both the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces. 
 
     
     
         4 . The processed cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces are each sized to between approximately 15 mm 3  and 1500 mm 3 . 
 
     
     
         5 . The processed cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces are each sized to approximately 250 mm 3  with a tolerance of 50 percent. 
 
     
     
         6 . The processed cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 the packaging includes a plurality of perforations. 
 
     
     
         7 . The processed cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces are sealed within the packaging via a film on the packaging. 
 
     
     
         8 . The process cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least a portion of the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces are coated with at least one of a spice admix, a cheese, an oil, a vinegar, a malt, a flavoring, a preservative, and a vitamin and mineral admix. 
 
     
     
         9 . The process cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least a portion of the cauliflower stem and the cauliflower crown are treated with a substance including at least one of an antimicrobial, a preservative, a whitener, and a chemical coating. 
 
     
     
         10 . The process cauliflower mixture of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least a portion of the cauliflower stem and the cauliflower crown are washed with a wash solution containing at least one of sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, organic acids, chlorine dioxide, silver ion, water treated with ozone, water treated with pulsed electric field, and water treated with ultraviolet radiation. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method for processing cauliflower, the method comprising:
 washing at least a portion of cauliflower that includes a stem portion and a crown portion;   sizing at least the portion of the cauliflower, including at least one of the steps of grinding, sanding, crushing, cutting, scoring and breaking, and hydraulically fracturing and instantaneously vacuum drying the stem portion of the cauliflower and the crown portion of the cauliflower, wherein the sizing is performed on both the stem portion of the cauliflower and the crown portion of the cauliflower; and   packaging the cauliflower comprising the stem portion and the crown portion of the cauliflower together in a container;   wherein the sizing treats the cauliflower stem so that the stem mimics the visual and tactile effects of the crown portion prior to processing, and the stem and the crown portions in the container are indistinguishable in visual appearance.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the washing includes removing unwanted dust, residual, and debris from the portion of the cauliflower.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the washing includes washing the portion of the cauliflower a wash solution containing at least one of sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, organic acids, chlorine dioxide, silver ion, water treated with ozone, water treated with pulsed electric field, and water treated with ultraviolet radiation.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 gauging the portion of the cauliflower with at least one of a screen, a camera, visual inspection, and automatic robotic feeler gauges.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the washing includes at least one of applying whiteners and applying rinses and coatings to at least the portion of the cauliflower.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the sizing includes at least one of marking and notching at least the portion of the cauliflower.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces are each sized to between approximately 15 mm 3  and 1500 mm 3 . 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces are each sized to approximately 250 mm 3  with a tolerance of 50 percent.