A method for producing a reconstitutable dehydrated food product, an apparatus
for producing such a product, and a product produced thereby are described. The
method calls for using a stationary vessel to separately hydrate at least two batches
of raw beans with circulating water, as well as a second stationary vessel to separately
pressure cook the hydrated beans using direct steam injection with minimal agitation.
A first batch is then chopped and sized, and then formed into a generally flat,
preferably ribbed sheet of texturized composition. The latter is then dried and
broken into chunks. The second batch of beans is kept whole and, once cooked, is
dried utilizing a combination convection/microwave heating chamber in such a way
as to preserve the integrity of the beans. The dried whole beans are then added
to the first batch of beans, and preferably, to the chunks produced therefrom.