CA2169458A1 - Method and apparatus for the production of snacks - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for the production of snacksInfo
- Publication number
- CA2169458A1 CA2169458A1 CA002169458A CA2169458A CA2169458A1 CA 2169458 A1 CA2169458 A1 CA 2169458A1 CA 002169458 A CA002169458 A CA 002169458A CA 2169458 A CA2169458 A CA 2169458A CA 2169458 A1 CA2169458 A1 CA 2169458A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- drying zone
- zone
- treatment
- objects
- belt
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 235000011888 snacks Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 24
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 8
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 57
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 244000061456 Solanum tuberosum Species 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 235000002595 Solanum tuberosum Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000001007 puffing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000003925 fat Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium chloride Chemical compound [Na+].[Cl-] FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 6
- 235000013599 spices Nutrition 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000002203 pretreatment Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011780 sodium chloride Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 206010033546 Pallor Diseases 0.000 claims 1
- 238000007669 thermal treatment Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 235000013606 potato chips Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 8
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 11
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000007605 air drying Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000005418 vegetable material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 244000141359 Malus pumila Species 0.000 description 2
- 235000021016 apples Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004321 preservation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 244000298697 Actinidia deliciosa Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000009436 Actinidia deliciosa Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000005254 Allium ampeloprasum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000006108 Allium ampeloprasum Species 0.000 description 1
- 244000291564 Allium cepa Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002732 Allium cepa var. cepa Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000016068 Berberis vulgaris Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241000335053 Beta vulgaris Species 0.000 description 1
- 244000000626 Daucus carota Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002767 Daucus carota Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 101100465000 Mus musculus Prag1 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 240000008790 Musa x paradisiaca Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000021015 bananas Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013861 fat-free Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000035611 feeding Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002421 finishing Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011031 large-scale manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003755 preservative agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001291 vacuum drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009777 vacuum freeze-drying Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
- A23L19/00—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L19/10—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof of tuberous or like starch containing root crops
- A23L19/12—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof of tuberous or like starch containing root crops of potatoes
- A23L19/18—Roasted or fried products, e.g. snacks or chips
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
- A23L19/00—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof
- A23L19/09—Mashed or comminuted products, e.g. pulp, purée, sauce, or products made therefrom, e.g. snacks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23P—SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS
- A23P30/00—Shaping or working of foodstuffs characterised by the process or apparatus
- A23P30/30—Puffing or expanding
- A23P30/38—Puffing or expanding by heating
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Nutrition Science (AREA)
- Preparation Of Fruits And Vegetables (AREA)
Abstract
Vegetable snacks without fat are produced by placing sliced objects such as potato slices (3) on a net belt (1) in a single layer and by first carrying them through a predrying zone (5) and then a treatment zone (6) where the potato slices are puffed. The puffed potato slices (3') are then carried to a post-drying zone (7) and conveyed through same by a belt (2) whereafter the finished potato chips (3") are packed. In all heating zones (5, 6, 7) there may be used heating elements (4) treating the potato slices with infrared heat radiation, if desired by two-sided treatment by further heating elements or reflectors (10).
Description
W095/05089 . ~ ,.~ 21 6q4~ PCT~X93/00261 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SNACKS
State of the art The invention relates to a method for the production of ve-getable snacks without using or adding fats and as further described in the introduction to claim 1, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, for example as described in the introduction to claim 7.
For several years it has been known to produce vegetable snacks, ie. crisp and crunchy snacks of vegetable material, such as potatos, apples, bananas and similer vegetables or root vegetables. The vegetable material is sliced or formed into slices which then undergo a treatment reducing the water content so much that a preservation is obtained while at the same time obt~ining a crisp, tasty and healthy prod-uct with a pleasant appearance. The water content must be reduced so that the dry-matter content is above 85~ and therefore the product must be kept in air-tight bags until it is consumed if it is not to loose its crispness and taste. Reduction of the water content may take place by vacuum drying or freeze drying which, however, are compar-atively costly processes and which will not always provide a product with a sufficiently pleasant appearance.
GB patent application no. 2,254,994 describes a method and an apparatus for producing potato chips without fat wherein the chips are first dried to have a moisture content below 30~ whereafter they are dried at 140 -220 C to obtain a final, suitable residual moisture, crispness and a desired appearance. The drying is made by hot air while effectively stirring, which is a difficult process to control and more-over energywise a very expensive way of carrying out the drying process. Furthermore, this method will often neces-sitate readjustment of the moisture content by adding water W095/05089 2 1 6 9 4 5 8 PCT~Kg3/00261 prior to the final drying which increases the energy con-sumption.
Others therefore apply a heat treatment for producing ve-getable chips without adding fat whereby it is possible by a suitable heat treatment to obtain snacks with the desired properties regarding appearance, crispness, taste and structure. US patent no. 4,800,090 and US patent no.
5,049,711 describe a method and an apparatus for producing potato chips by applying a heat treatment without using or adding fats, the heat treatment process comprising a first step of heat treatment with infrared radiation of the po-tato slices, then a microwave treatment of the pre-dried potato slices and, finally, a post-drying process again with infrared radiation in order to obtain a desired brown-ing and a desired dry-matter content in the f~n~Rhed prod-uct. Finally, the finished product is radiated prior to packaging with ultraviolet light to ensure preservation.
Application of microwave energy, however, is technically complicated and costly. Microwave ovens for continuous use require compliance with many safety measures which are to prevent the radiation from getting outside the oven. More-over, it is generally known that it is difficult to obtain an even and uniform heating with microwave radiation at least not without a number of further technical facilities which will distribute the field evenly within the oven. The process also calls for the application of a special con-veyor belt through the microwave oven which means that the potato snacks are to be conveyed from one belt by the pre-drying to the next belt by the microwave treatment and then to a new belt, the third belt, by the post-drying. This will provide an inappropriate and complicated apparatus and will probably require synchronisation of the first two belts since the pre-drying and the microwave treatment will require that the potato slices form a single layer on the W095/05089 2 t 6 9 ~ 5 8 PCT~K93/00261 belt. There are therefore a number of drawbacks in the known process and the known apparatus therefor which draw-backs are mainly caused by the application of microwave energy for the central treatment of the potato slices in that this treatment is to give the potato slices the de-sired properties.
Advantages of the invention By proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 1 the use of microwave treatment and other complicat-ed treatment forms for the central treatment of the veget-able objects, namely the heat treatment in the treatment zone itself where the puffing takes place, is completely avoided. It has surprisingly proved possible to provide the vegetable ob~ects with the required energy for the puffing by infrared heat radiatlon. In the pre-drying zone the ob-~ects must be dried in a controlled manner so as to form on the surface of each ob~ect a thin, relatively uniform shell. By the puffing in the treatment zone there is then supplied so much heat that a boiling of the water which is still bound in the inner tissue of the ob~ect occurs. The structure is thereby puffed into a loose, crisp surface resulting in a product with the desired properties. The post-drying is to ensure that the finished product has a water activity which is low enough to preserve the product without adding preservatives or without any further finish-ing treatment. The product is then packed in suitable pack-ages and will keep for a long period of time.
The pre-drying and the post-drying can be made in a known m~n~err for example by airdrying or by applying infrared radiation. If proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 2, applying infrared radiation for the pre-drying as well as the post-drying, a shorter processing time is achieved which permits the application of shorter r~
W095/05089 ~ PCT~K93/00261 4 2 1 69458 ~
conveyor belts and shorter drying zones resulting in a smaller and cheaper apparatus.
If the vegetable snacks to be produced are potato chips, there is proceeded according to the invention as further disclosed in claim 3. It has proved possible to produce po-tato chips with the desired properties in this manner quite without complicated controlling processes. If the temperat-ure in the individual zones is as stated, and the coll~eyor belts and the individual zones have suitable lengths, then the potato chips will get suitable treatment periods in the individual zones. With the preferred temperatures as disclosed in claim 3, the pre-drying can take place in about 1-5 min., the treatment itself, ie. the puffing, in about 0.5-3 min., and the post-drying in about 4-15 min., so that the total processing time by a continuous produc-tion can be kept under lO minutes.
By proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 4, the method is simplified in that it has proved possible to integrate the pre-drying zone and the treatment zone into one zone with an increasing temperature in the travelling direction until the puffing has been achieved as desired. This will reduce the processing time which also means that the production apparatus can be reduced in size and thus also costwise.
By proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 5, there is obtained a highly uniform end product.
The more uniform the thickness of the slices, the more uni-form will the final quality be.
Depending on the desired structure in the end product, it is further possible to proceed as disclosed in the charac-terising part of claim 6. ~uring a pre-treatment immedi-ately before the pre-drying the product may either be boil-
State of the art The invention relates to a method for the production of ve-getable snacks without using or adding fats and as further described in the introduction to claim 1, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, for example as described in the introduction to claim 7.
For several years it has been known to produce vegetable snacks, ie. crisp and crunchy snacks of vegetable material, such as potatos, apples, bananas and similer vegetables or root vegetables. The vegetable material is sliced or formed into slices which then undergo a treatment reducing the water content so much that a preservation is obtained while at the same time obt~ining a crisp, tasty and healthy prod-uct with a pleasant appearance. The water content must be reduced so that the dry-matter content is above 85~ and therefore the product must be kept in air-tight bags until it is consumed if it is not to loose its crispness and taste. Reduction of the water content may take place by vacuum drying or freeze drying which, however, are compar-atively costly processes and which will not always provide a product with a sufficiently pleasant appearance.
GB patent application no. 2,254,994 describes a method and an apparatus for producing potato chips without fat wherein the chips are first dried to have a moisture content below 30~ whereafter they are dried at 140 -220 C to obtain a final, suitable residual moisture, crispness and a desired appearance. The drying is made by hot air while effectively stirring, which is a difficult process to control and more-over energywise a very expensive way of carrying out the drying process. Furthermore, this method will often neces-sitate readjustment of the moisture content by adding water W095/05089 2 1 6 9 4 5 8 PCT~Kg3/00261 prior to the final drying which increases the energy con-sumption.
Others therefore apply a heat treatment for producing ve-getable chips without adding fat whereby it is possible by a suitable heat treatment to obtain snacks with the desired properties regarding appearance, crispness, taste and structure. US patent no. 4,800,090 and US patent no.
5,049,711 describe a method and an apparatus for producing potato chips by applying a heat treatment without using or adding fats, the heat treatment process comprising a first step of heat treatment with infrared radiation of the po-tato slices, then a microwave treatment of the pre-dried potato slices and, finally, a post-drying process again with infrared radiation in order to obtain a desired brown-ing and a desired dry-matter content in the f~n~Rhed prod-uct. Finally, the finished product is radiated prior to packaging with ultraviolet light to ensure preservation.
Application of microwave energy, however, is technically complicated and costly. Microwave ovens for continuous use require compliance with many safety measures which are to prevent the radiation from getting outside the oven. More-over, it is generally known that it is difficult to obtain an even and uniform heating with microwave radiation at least not without a number of further technical facilities which will distribute the field evenly within the oven. The process also calls for the application of a special con-veyor belt through the microwave oven which means that the potato snacks are to be conveyed from one belt by the pre-drying to the next belt by the microwave treatment and then to a new belt, the third belt, by the post-drying. This will provide an inappropriate and complicated apparatus and will probably require synchronisation of the first two belts since the pre-drying and the microwave treatment will require that the potato slices form a single layer on the W095/05089 2 t 6 9 ~ 5 8 PCT~K93/00261 belt. There are therefore a number of drawbacks in the known process and the known apparatus therefor which draw-backs are mainly caused by the application of microwave energy for the central treatment of the potato slices in that this treatment is to give the potato slices the de-sired properties.
Advantages of the invention By proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 1 the use of microwave treatment and other complicat-ed treatment forms for the central treatment of the veget-able objects, namely the heat treatment in the treatment zone itself where the puffing takes place, is completely avoided. It has surprisingly proved possible to provide the vegetable ob~ects with the required energy for the puffing by infrared heat radiatlon. In the pre-drying zone the ob-~ects must be dried in a controlled manner so as to form on the surface of each ob~ect a thin, relatively uniform shell. By the puffing in the treatment zone there is then supplied so much heat that a boiling of the water which is still bound in the inner tissue of the ob~ect occurs. The structure is thereby puffed into a loose, crisp surface resulting in a product with the desired properties. The post-drying is to ensure that the finished product has a water activity which is low enough to preserve the product without adding preservatives or without any further finish-ing treatment. The product is then packed in suitable pack-ages and will keep for a long period of time.
The pre-drying and the post-drying can be made in a known m~n~err for example by airdrying or by applying infrared radiation. If proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 2, applying infrared radiation for the pre-drying as well as the post-drying, a shorter processing time is achieved which permits the application of shorter r~
W095/05089 ~ PCT~K93/00261 4 2 1 69458 ~
conveyor belts and shorter drying zones resulting in a smaller and cheaper apparatus.
If the vegetable snacks to be produced are potato chips, there is proceeded according to the invention as further disclosed in claim 3. It has proved possible to produce po-tato chips with the desired properties in this manner quite without complicated controlling processes. If the temperat-ure in the individual zones is as stated, and the coll~eyor belts and the individual zones have suitable lengths, then the potato chips will get suitable treatment periods in the individual zones. With the preferred temperatures as disclosed in claim 3, the pre-drying can take place in about 1-5 min., the treatment itself, ie. the puffing, in about 0.5-3 min., and the post-drying in about 4-15 min., so that the total processing time by a continuous produc-tion can be kept under lO minutes.
By proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 4, the method is simplified in that it has proved possible to integrate the pre-drying zone and the treatment zone into one zone with an increasing temperature in the travelling direction until the puffing has been achieved as desired. This will reduce the processing time which also means that the production apparatus can be reduced in size and thus also costwise.
By proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 5, there is obtained a highly uniform end product.
The more uniform the thickness of the slices, the more uni-form will the final quality be.
Depending on the desired structure in the end product, it is further possible to proceed as disclosed in the charac-terising part of claim 6. ~uring a pre-treatment immedi-ately before the pre-drying the product may either be boil-
2 1 69458 W095/05089 ~ PCT~K93/00261 ed or steam-treated by carrying the belt with the slices arranged individually thereon through a bath of boiling water or through a steam chamber. The boiling time will be between 0.5 and 5 min., depending on slice thickness, po-tato thickness, time of crop etc.
By proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part ofclaim 7, it is possible to obtain a suitable spicing of the end product. The spicing may be effected by boiling the slices in a solution of spices, for example 2% sodium chloride solution, or by spraying salt and/or spices dir-ectly onto the slices on the belt.
If raw slices are directly used as described in claim 3, salt and any spices may be sprayed directly onto the slices on the belt immediately prior to the heat treatment.
The i~vention also relates to an apparatus for the produc-tion of vegetable chips by application of the method ac-cording to the invention. The apparatus is designed asfurther disclosed in the characterising parts of claim 8, 9 or lO. This will provide a processing apparatus wherein it is possible continuously and at a minimum energy consump-tion to produce vegetable snacks without using fats, for example potato chips. If the apparatus is designed with infrared heat radiation in the pre-drying zone as well as the post-drying zone in addition to the treatment zone, there is obtained an apparatus wherein it is possible in a simple manner to adjust the energy supply and thus the tem-perature in the individual zones irrespective of thesezones being physically separated or being integrated.
The drawing The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing showing a section through an apparatus according to W095/OS089 6 2 1 6 9 4 5 ~ PCT~Kg3/00261 the invention and with reference to the below example.
Description of the embodiment The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises two conveyor belts 1, 2, where the first conveyor belt 1 is a so-called net belt. By the belts there are arranged a number of heat-ing units 5, 6, 7, where the heating unit 5 is the pre-drying zone, the heating units 6 form the treatment zone and the heating unit 7 is the post-drying zone. Under the heating unit 5 in the pre-drying zone there may be arranged a reflector or a heating unit 10. The heat treatment units 6 enclose the net belt so that the puffing takes place by heat treatment from both sides. All the heating units are shown with infrared heating units 4. Slices of vegetable material 3 arranged individually on the belt l, for example in a width of up to several metres, in order to achieve large-scale production capacity are introduced at the feed-ing point 8. Following pre-drying and puffing the now al-most f;n;~hed snacks 3' are transferred to the post-drying belt 2 which has a substantially lower travelling speed than the first belt 1 such that the ~nAck~ will lie on the belt in a thicker layer and at random. The reflector or heating unit 10 under the belt will permit post-drying from both sides. The f;ni~hed snacks 3'' are then transferred after cooling, if so desired, directly to the packing 9 in the form of suitable packages. The drying can therefore take place two-sidedly either by applying heating units 5, 6, 7, 10 on either side of the belts 1, 2 or by heating units on one side of the belt and reflectors on the other side of the belt or by a combination thereof. It has also proved possible, however, to produce snacks of the mention-ed kind by one-sided drying.
The pre-drying with the heating unit 5 may take place by airdrying or as shown by direct infrared radiation. If W095/05089 l~ ' ~ PCT~K93/00261 airdrying is applied, this will be at an air temperature of up to 350C. At a temperature of for example 200 C, the drying period will be about 4 min. by a slice thickness of 1 mm. In case of infrared radiation, the comparative drying period will be about 1-3 min. depending on whether the po-tato slices are raw or pre-boiled.
In the puffing zone 6 there is applied a treatment period of 0.5-3,0 min. by infrared radiation. The processing time in the pre-drying zone 5 and the treatment zone 6 is deter-mined by the speed of the belt 1 and the length of the zones.
In the post-drying zone 7 the drying may take place by hot air at a temperature of 100-250C for 4-15 min. or as shown by infrared heat radiation. Incidentally, by some types of vegetable objects it has proved advantageous if the post-drying zone has a higher temperature at the beginning of the zone than at the end of the zone. Also here the treat-ment period is determined by the speed of the belt 2 and the length of the heating zone. To ensure uniform post-drying there may be arranged means immediately above the belt which stir the ob;ects situated on the belt.
There may be used fresh, raw potatos, which have been wash-ed and sliced with or without peel, or preboiled potato slices. In case of pre-treatment the belt 1 will usually be extended so that the raw slices are placed on the conveyor belt directly from the cutting machine and then carried through a boiling section where the slices are boiled either by carrying them through a bath of boiling water or a boiling spice solution or by carrying them through a steam chamber.
W095/05089 2 1 6 94 ~ 8 PCT~K93/00261 Example 100 kg fresh unpeeled potatos are washed and cut into 1 mm thick slices. Directly from the cutting machine they are individually arranged on a net belt carrying the potato slices through a boiling zone before they are carried through an apparatus which in principle is designed as shown in the drawing.
The end product is 20 kg potato chips produced according to the following process:
Treatment Time Temp. % dry matter Product weight min. C start end kg Raw mat. 100 Preboiling 2 100 17-21 17-25 80 Predrying 4 200 17-25 35-45 45 Puffing IR 1 - 35-45 62-78 30 Postdrying 10 225/120 62-78 9S-100 20 The preboiling took place in a 2% NaCl solution.
The apparatus described above is only to be considered as one example of how the method according to the invention may be applied industrially, and the mentioned example is also just one example of how fat-free vegetable snacks in the form of potato chips may be produced according to the invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention may be applied in numerous different ways within the scope defined by the following patent claims. It is also obvious to a person skilled in the art that the method and the apparatus according to the inven-tion may be used in connection with the production of ve-getable snacks of almost any kind of vegetables or root ve-wog5/05089 2 ~ ~945~ PCT~K93/00261 getables, including potatos, carrots, onions, apples,leeks, b~ n~, beets, kiwi fruits etc., all without using fats.
By proceeding as disclosed in the characterising part ofclaim 7, it is possible to obtain a suitable spicing of the end product. The spicing may be effected by boiling the slices in a solution of spices, for example 2% sodium chloride solution, or by spraying salt and/or spices dir-ectly onto the slices on the belt.
If raw slices are directly used as described in claim 3, salt and any spices may be sprayed directly onto the slices on the belt immediately prior to the heat treatment.
The i~vention also relates to an apparatus for the produc-tion of vegetable chips by application of the method ac-cording to the invention. The apparatus is designed asfurther disclosed in the characterising parts of claim 8, 9 or lO. This will provide a processing apparatus wherein it is possible continuously and at a minimum energy consump-tion to produce vegetable snacks without using fats, for example potato chips. If the apparatus is designed with infrared heat radiation in the pre-drying zone as well as the post-drying zone in addition to the treatment zone, there is obtained an apparatus wherein it is possible in a simple manner to adjust the energy supply and thus the tem-perature in the individual zones irrespective of thesezones being physically separated or being integrated.
The drawing The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing showing a section through an apparatus according to W095/OS089 6 2 1 6 9 4 5 ~ PCT~Kg3/00261 the invention and with reference to the below example.
Description of the embodiment The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises two conveyor belts 1, 2, where the first conveyor belt 1 is a so-called net belt. By the belts there are arranged a number of heat-ing units 5, 6, 7, where the heating unit 5 is the pre-drying zone, the heating units 6 form the treatment zone and the heating unit 7 is the post-drying zone. Under the heating unit 5 in the pre-drying zone there may be arranged a reflector or a heating unit 10. The heat treatment units 6 enclose the net belt so that the puffing takes place by heat treatment from both sides. All the heating units are shown with infrared heating units 4. Slices of vegetable material 3 arranged individually on the belt l, for example in a width of up to several metres, in order to achieve large-scale production capacity are introduced at the feed-ing point 8. Following pre-drying and puffing the now al-most f;n;~hed snacks 3' are transferred to the post-drying belt 2 which has a substantially lower travelling speed than the first belt 1 such that the ~nAck~ will lie on the belt in a thicker layer and at random. The reflector or heating unit 10 under the belt will permit post-drying from both sides. The f;ni~hed snacks 3'' are then transferred after cooling, if so desired, directly to the packing 9 in the form of suitable packages. The drying can therefore take place two-sidedly either by applying heating units 5, 6, 7, 10 on either side of the belts 1, 2 or by heating units on one side of the belt and reflectors on the other side of the belt or by a combination thereof. It has also proved possible, however, to produce snacks of the mention-ed kind by one-sided drying.
The pre-drying with the heating unit 5 may take place by airdrying or as shown by direct infrared radiation. If W095/05089 l~ ' ~ PCT~K93/00261 airdrying is applied, this will be at an air temperature of up to 350C. At a temperature of for example 200 C, the drying period will be about 4 min. by a slice thickness of 1 mm. In case of infrared radiation, the comparative drying period will be about 1-3 min. depending on whether the po-tato slices are raw or pre-boiled.
In the puffing zone 6 there is applied a treatment period of 0.5-3,0 min. by infrared radiation. The processing time in the pre-drying zone 5 and the treatment zone 6 is deter-mined by the speed of the belt 1 and the length of the zones.
In the post-drying zone 7 the drying may take place by hot air at a temperature of 100-250C for 4-15 min. or as shown by infrared heat radiation. Incidentally, by some types of vegetable objects it has proved advantageous if the post-drying zone has a higher temperature at the beginning of the zone than at the end of the zone. Also here the treat-ment period is determined by the speed of the belt 2 and the length of the heating zone. To ensure uniform post-drying there may be arranged means immediately above the belt which stir the ob;ects situated on the belt.
There may be used fresh, raw potatos, which have been wash-ed and sliced with or without peel, or preboiled potato slices. In case of pre-treatment the belt 1 will usually be extended so that the raw slices are placed on the conveyor belt directly from the cutting machine and then carried through a boiling section where the slices are boiled either by carrying them through a bath of boiling water or a boiling spice solution or by carrying them through a steam chamber.
W095/05089 2 1 6 94 ~ 8 PCT~K93/00261 Example 100 kg fresh unpeeled potatos are washed and cut into 1 mm thick slices. Directly from the cutting machine they are individually arranged on a net belt carrying the potato slices through a boiling zone before they are carried through an apparatus which in principle is designed as shown in the drawing.
The end product is 20 kg potato chips produced according to the following process:
Treatment Time Temp. % dry matter Product weight min. C start end kg Raw mat. 100 Preboiling 2 100 17-21 17-25 80 Predrying 4 200 17-25 35-45 45 Puffing IR 1 - 35-45 62-78 30 Postdrying 10 225/120 62-78 9S-100 20 The preboiling took place in a 2% NaCl solution.
The apparatus described above is only to be considered as one example of how the method according to the invention may be applied industrially, and the mentioned example is also just one example of how fat-free vegetable snacks in the form of potato chips may be produced according to the invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention may be applied in numerous different ways within the scope defined by the following patent claims. It is also obvious to a person skilled in the art that the method and the apparatus according to the inven-tion may be used in connection with the production of ve-getable snacks of almost any kind of vegetables or root ve-wog5/05089 2 ~ ~945~ PCT~K93/00261 getables, including potatos, carrots, onions, apples,leeks, b~ n~, beets, kiwi fruits etc., all without using fats.
Claims (10)
1. Method for producing vegetable snacks without using fats by heat treatment in a number of successive zones, namely a pre-drying zone, a treatment zone and a post-drying zone, in that sliced vegetable objects of substantially equal thickness and situated on a conveyor belt in a single layer are conveyed through the zones in the mentioned order, characterised in a) that in the pre-drying zone the objects are thermally treated at a temperature which is high enough and a period of time which is long enough to form a thin shell on the surface of the objects, b) that in the treatment zone the objects are then treated on both sides with infrared heat radiation at a higher temperature than in the pre-drying zone and for so long that puffing of the objects is achieved, and c) that in the post-drying zone the objects are then further thermally treated at a temperature which is lower than that of the pre-drying zone until the objects reach a dry-matter content above 85%, preferably above 90%.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the thermal treatment in the pre-drying zone as well as the post-drying zone is by infrared heat radiation.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2 and where the vegetable objects are raw potato slices of substantially equal thick-ness which are fed to the pre-drying zone directly from a cutting machine, characterised in a) that the temperature in the pre-drying zone is maintain-ed at up to 350°C, preferably about 200°C, b) that the required temperature in the treatment zone is achieved by infrared radiation, c) that the temperature in the post-drying zone is varied between 250°C and 100°C, and that the potato slices are conveyed on a conveyor belt so that the period of time within which the potato slices are in the individual zones will depend on the extension of the zones.
4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the pre-drying zone and the treatment zone are integ-rated but with a higher temperature at the end of the zone.
5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the slices are all of equal thickness of 0.5-3 mm, prefer-ably 0.9-1.2 mm.
6. Method according to claim l or 2 and where the vegetable objects are potato slices of substantially equal thickness and which, prior to being fed to the pre-drying zone, have been pre-treated by boiling or blanching at a temperature of approx. 100°C, characterised in a) that the temperature in the pre-drying zone is maintain-ed at up to 350°C, preferably about 200°C, b) that the required temperature in the treatment zone is achieved by infrared radiation, c) that the temperature in the post-drying zone is varied between 250°C and 100°C, and that the potato slices are conveyed on a conveyor belt so that the period of time within which the potato slices are in the individual zones will depend on the extension of the zones.
7. Method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterised in that the pre-treatment comprises addition of spices, e.g. sodium chloride.
8. Apparatus for the production of vegetable snacks without fats by heat treatment in a number of successive zones, namely a pre-drying zone (5), a treatment zone (6) and a post-drying zone (7), in that sliced vegetable objects (3) of substantially equal thickness and situated in one layer on a conveyor belt (1) are fed into the pre-drying zone and conveyed through the zones by means of conveyor belts, characterised in that the treatment zone (6) comprises infrared radiating heating elements (4).
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that in the treatment zone there may be arranged heating elements (4) on either side of the belt (1) and that the belt may be a net belt.
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that a first belt (1) conveys the objects through the pre-drying zone (5) as well as the treatment zone (6) where-after they are conveyed to a second conveyor belt (2) carrying the objects through the post-drying zone (7) and then directly to a packing apparatus in that the second belt (2) has a slower rate of speed than the first-mention-ed belt (1).
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002169458A CA2169458A1 (en) | 1993-08-12 | 1993-08-12 | Method and apparatus for the production of snacks |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002169458A CA2169458A1 (en) | 1993-08-12 | 1993-08-12 | Method and apparatus for the production of snacks |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2169458A1 true CA2169458A1 (en) | 1995-02-23 |
Family
ID=4157567
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002169458A Abandoned CA2169458A1 (en) | 1993-08-12 | 1993-08-12 | Method and apparatus for the production of snacks |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2169458A1 (en) |
-
1993
- 1993-08-12 CA CA002169458A patent/CA2169458A1/en not_active Abandoned
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |