Abstract:
This invention relates to a system for and method of blanching, steaming, and/or boiling a food product (101), the method comprising applying steam of a gas (103) to at least a part of a surface area (101') of a food product (101) for a predetermined period of time thereby blanching, steaming, and/or boiling at least a part of said food product (101), wherein the method further comprises applying airborne high intensity and high power acoustic waves (104) to at least a part of said steam of gas (103) causing the part of said steam of gas (103) to oscillate substantially at the frequency and substantially with the intensity and power of the acoustic waves (104). In this way, a blanching, a steaming and/or a boiling effect can be improved by application of a combination of steam of a gas and airborne high intensity and high power acoustic waves where the sonic impact of the acoustic waves increases and enhances the blanching, steaming, and/or boiling effect of the steam. This entails that the food product (of plant or animal origin) to a larger extent will obtain the desired properties (absence of inherent enzymatic activity, preservation of colour, unchanged/only slightly changed texture and water binding capabilities).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a shelf stable, ready-to-use soup having improved organoleptic properties and nutritional content, said method comprising the steps of boiling the soup and optionally mixing the same with cleaned and boiled vegetable pieces/meat chunks/lettuce; filling the boiled soup thus obtained into a container and sealing thereof, and sterilizing the sealed container containing the soup in a retort at Fo value in the range of 6-10 and cooling the same to obtain the desired soup.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method which consists in: providing a solution of antifungicidal and/or anti-oxidizing aqueous composition (12), placing the fruits or vegetables (3) in retaining means (4), lowering the retaining means to immerse completely the fruits or vegetables in the solution, raising the retaining means to remove the fruits or vegetables from the solution. It comprises, after completely immersing the fruits or vegetables and before removing them from the solution, intermediate steps which consist in: raising the retaining means so that at least part of the fruits or vegetables contained therein emerge from the solution, and lowering the retaining means to completely immerse the fruits and vegetables contained therein in the solution once more.
Abstract:
Food safety and longevity of still respiring fruit or vegetable pieces are enhanced reliant on a treatment process where the cut surfaces (preferably cleaned of cell debrit) are subjected to both UV light irradiation and heating so as, in concert, render the surfaces more sterile. The heating also has the effect of reducing ethylene production and at least depressing respiration. Such a process is preferably in addition to an anti-oxidant impregnation. The overall process in its preferred forms significantly extends the life and apparent freshness of, for example, apple slices when kept post treatment (eg; 25 days) over the temperature range of from 0 DEG C to 8 DEG C.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method which consists in: providing a solution of antifungicidal and/or anti-oxidizing aqueous composition (12), placing the fruits or vegetables (3) in retaining means (4), lowering the retaining means to immerse completely the fruits or vegetables in the solution, raising the retaining means to remove the fruits or vegetables from the solution. It comprises, after completely immersing the fruits or vegetables and before removing them from the solution, intermediate steps which consist in: raising the retaining means so that at least part of the fruits or vegetables contained therein emerge from the solution, and lowering the retaining means to completely immerse the fruits and vegetables contained therein in the solution once more.
Abstract:
Said potato is obtainable by means of a high-pressure process, said process comprising the following steps: (a) packing of said potato; (b) increase of the pressure up to a value between 200 and 700 MPa during a period of time between 30 and 300 seconds; (c) maintaining the pressure for a period of time between 30 seconds and 30 minutes at a temperature between 0 and 40 ° C, and (d) decreasing the pressure to atmospheric pressure for a period of time between 20 and 120 seconds. The cut potato thus obtained keeps its organoleptic properties for a longer period of time.
Abstract:
Premium quality intermediate moisture vegetables and methods for preparing such vegetables are provided. The premium quality intermediate moisture vegetables are prepared by (a) infusing vegetables with an antimicrobial infusion cocktail at a temperature of greater than about 50°F [about 10C] for about 15 to about 180 minutes, wherein the antimicrobial infusion cocktail comprises an aqueous solution of (1) a water-soluble, predominantly lower molecular weight, low sweetness carbohydrate, (2) a polyhydric alcohol, (3) salt, (4) a non-inorganic sweetness depressant agent, and (5) nisin-containing whey derived from a nisin-producing culture; (b) collecting the vegetables and removing excess antimicrobial infusion cocktail; (c) drying the collected vegetables to a water activity of about 0.5 to about 0.9 to form the intermediate moisture vegetables; and (d) packaging the intermediate moisture vegetables. After drying to a water activity of about 0.5 to about 0.9, the intermediate moisture vegetables of the present invention are shelf stable. For example, such intermediate moisture vegetables having a water activity of about 0.55 to about 0.65 are expected to be shelf stable for about twelve months under ambient conditions; intermediate moisture vegetables having a water activity of about 0.75 to about 0.85 are expected to be shelf stable for about 90 days under refrigeration conditions. When cooked, these intermediate moisture vegetables provide appearance, texture, and taste similar to that provided by high quality cooked frozen vegetables.
Abstract:
PCT No. PCT/NL95/00078 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 8, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 8, 1996 PCT Filed Mar. 2, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO95/23516 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 8, 1995The invention relates to a method for the production of an optionally preserved, water- and/or oil-containing foodstuff such as vegetables, pulses and fruit, which a casein compound which is soluble in water and/or oil or has been dissolved in water and/or oil is added to the foodstuff before, during or after the preparation or sterilisation, a closed container, containing a foodstuff which has been prepared according to this method, as well as the use of a casein compound which is soluble in water, or has been dissolved in water, to improve the appearance of optionally preserved water- and/or oil-containing products.
Abstract:
An apparatus for processing hydrated biological materials, including a material feed device (6), a steam heating chamber (1) through which the materials (M1) pass, and a low-pressure expansion chamber (2) for cooling the heated material (M2) from the heating chamber (1) and evaporating off some of the water in said materials (M2), said expansion chamber (2) being respectively connected to the heating chamber (1) via a device (12) capable of maintaining a pressure differential between the two chambers (1, 2), and to a condenser (3) which is in turn connected to a vacuum source. The apparatus is characterized in that it includes a device (40) for recovering the hot condensates/exudates (L1) formed in the heating chamber (1), a device (5) for heating and evaporating said hot condensates/exudates (L2), and a device (45) for delivering and injecting the steam given off by said condensates/exudates from the exchanger (5) into the heating chamber (1).