MICROWAVEABLE PIZZA CRUST

摘要

The present invention relates to microwaveable pizza crusts, which when heated in a microwave oven, rise in a manner similar to conventionally- baked pizza crusts. Such pizza crusts are mesophase gel-containing. Moreover, such mesophase-containing pizza crusts, when microwaved, do not only rise as is observed with conventional pizza crusts, but microwave treatment of these pizza crusts results in highly palatable and crisp pizza crusts, similar to those that are conventionally prepared. The mesophase gels formed herein for use in pizza crust are highly viscous, even in the absence of polymeric protein or polysaccharide thickening or bulking agents. The mesophase gel is formed using at least two emulsifiers and an aqueo us phase. The addition of the mesophase gel to the other pizza crust components results in a leavening action, and contributes to the palatabilit y and firmness of the resulting pizza crust.