PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an enzyme agent for easy manufacturing of softened foods having a softness which can be crushed by a tongue or gums without chewing by teeth, while maintaining the shape original to the foods, with the bitterness derived from the enzyme agent being removed, without using a dedicated apparatus and a manufacturing method of softened foods using the enzyme agent.SOLUTION: The enzyme agent for softened foods includes kiwi fruit and an enzyme agent with a content of 0.005% (w/w) or more. The manufacturing method of softened foods includes an enzyme treatment step of immersing a food material in a solution which contains the enzyme agent for softened foods and a heat treatment step of heating the food material treated with the enzyme.COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT【課題】本発明の目的は、食品本来の形状を維持しつつ、歯で噛まなくても舌や歯茎で食品をつぶすことができる軟らかさを有し、かつ、酵素剤由来の苦みを除去した軟化食品を専用の装置を用いることなく簡単に製造することができる酵素剤及び該酵素剤を用いた軟化食品の製造方法を提供することにある。【解決手段】キウイフルーツ及び酵素剤0.005%(w/w)以上を含む軟化食品用酵素剤及び該軟化食品用酵素剤を含有する溶液に食品素材を浸漬する酵素処理工程と、前記酵素処理した食品素材を加熱する加熱処理工程とを有することを特徴とする軟化食品の製造方法によって解決する。【選択図】図1
