JP2002017318A - Method for heat sterilization of solid food and its packaging container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for sterilizing a solid food by heating without deterioration of qualities, and to obtain a packaging container neither deforming nor being damaged by any sterilization treatment. SOLUTION: A packaging container 1 provided with a separating material 2 having >=0.2 μm separating function is packed with a solid food 3 and sealed. The packaging containers 1 are housed in a sterilization steam cooker 4 to reduce pressure of the sterilization steam cooker. Then steam is introduced into the sterilization steam cooker 4 to heat the solid food 3. Then the pressure of the sterilization steam cooker 4 is reduced to cool the solid food 3 in vacuum. Then the pressure of the sterilization ion pot 4 is returned to atmospheric pressure, the packaging container 1 is taken out, the separating material 2 is covered with a sealing material 5 and the packaging container is sealed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to vegetables. beans. Cooked rice. The present invention relates to a method for heat sterilizing a solid food such as fish meat using steam and a packaging container filled with the solid food.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional retort sterilization methods indirectly heat food through a sealed packaging container. To cool
In particular, solid foods have a slow conduction of heat to the center, and heat.
It takes a long time to cool, and the quality of the food deteriorates. Further, when the food is heated, the pressure inside the packaging container becomes higher than the saturated steam pressure, and a device for controlling the pressure inside the sterilizing pot is required so that the packaging container does not deform or burst.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of heat sterilization of a solid food in a short time without deteriorating the quality thereof, and a safe packaging which is free from deformation and rupture without using complicated equipment such as pressure control. It is to provide a container.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention substantially provides a solid container in a retort food packaging container provided with a separation material having a separation function having a particle size to be separated of 0.2 μm or more. Filling food, sealing the filling port, storing the packaging container in a sterilizing pot, depressurizing the sterilizing pot to degas air in the packaging container, and introducing steam into the sterilizing pot. Then, the step of directly heating the food in the packaging container with steam, the step of reducing the pressure in the sterilization pot and vacuum cooling the food in the packaging vessel, and returning the inside of the sterilization pot to atmospheric pressure, The method includes a step of taking out and sealing the separation material provided in the packaging container.

[0005] The present invention also uses a retort food packaging container provided with a separating material having a separating function that allows steam and air to pass through but does not allow bacteria and fungi growing in the food to pass through.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to introduce steam under reduced pressure in a sterilizing pot, steam enters into a packaging container after air has escaped through a separating material, and the steam spreads over the entire surface of the solid food,
It is efficiently heated in a short time. In the cooling step, the moisture of the heated solid food evaporates under reduced pressure, and the solid food is rapidly cooled by the latent heat of evaporation. Heating in such a short time. Cooling is possible and the flavor of the food is not lost. Even if the packaging container is taken out of the sterilizing pot into the atmosphere, the separation material allows the bacteria in the atmosphere to be safely handled without entering the packaging container. Furthermore, when transferring and storing the packaging container after the sterilization treatment, it is preferable to seal the separating material portion so that moisture or water does not enter, or to remove the separating material from the packaging container and reclose the packaging material.

In the sterilization process, the pressure in the sterilization pot and the pressure in the packaging container are equalized through the separating material, so that the packaging container can be safely treated without causing deformation or rupture. Therefore, sterilization can be performed using a simple and inexpensive sterilization apparatus that does not require pressure control.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a method for sterilizing solid food in the order of steps. (1) Solid Food Filling Step The solid food 3 is filled in the packaging container 1 provided with the separating material 2 and the filling port is sealed. (2) Degassing Step The sealed packaging container 1 is accommodated in a sterilizing pot 4, and after the sterilizing pot 4 is sealed, the inside air is evacuated and degassed and decompressed. At this time, the inside of the packaging container is also decompressed, but is evacuated to 50 Torr or less. (3) Heating. Sterilization process Next, steam is introduced into the sterilization pot 4 to heat the solid food 3,
Heat until the F value at the center of the solid food 3 becomes 4 or more. (4) Vacuum Cooling Step Next, the steam in the sterilization pot 4 is evacuated to degas and reduce the pressure. At this time, the solid food 3 in the packaging container 1 is cooled by latent heat of evaporation. (5) Removing and Sealing Step Next, air is introduced into the sterilizing pot 4 to return to the atmospheric pressure, the sterilizing pot 4 is opened, the stored packaging container 1 is taken out, and the sealing material 5 is put on the separating material 2 and sealed. I do. The sterilization treatment of the solid food is completed by the above steps. However, in the case of the solid food in which the air in the packaging container is hard to be deaerated, the deaeration step of (2) is repeated after the heating step of (3) and then again. (3) heating.
It is preferred to return to the sterilization step.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of three types of packaging containers.
The form of the packaging container includes a retort pouch (a bag) shown in FIG. 2, a retort container (a deep drawing container and a tray container) shown in FIG. 2, and a retort pack (a rocket shape) shown in FIG.
Although the separating material is attached to any type of packaging container, in the case of a retort pouch, it is preferable to attach the separating material to one side. In the case of a retort container, it is preferable to attach it to the lid, and in the case of a retort pack, it is preferable to provide a separating material at the end.

[00010]

According to the present invention, as described above, since steam is directly introduced into the packaging container under reduced pressure, the steam is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the solid food, and is efficiently heated in a short time. In the cooling step, the food can be rapidly cooled by vacuum cooling, so that sterilization can be performed in a short time without deteriorating the quality of the food. Further, since steam and air can freely enter and exit the packaging container through the separating material, there is no problem of deformation and breakage of the packaging container.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a process showing a sterilization method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a packaging container of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packaging container 2 Separation material 3 Solid food 4 Sterilization pot 5 Sealing material

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A step of filling a solid food into a retort food packaging container provided with a separating material having a separation function having a particle size to be separated of 0.2 μm or more, and sealing the filling port; Housed in a sterilizing pot, depressurizing the sterilizing pot, degassing the air in the packaging container, introducing steam into the sterilizing pot, and directly heating the solid food in the packaging container with steam And the step of reducing the pressure in the sterilizing pot and vacuum cooling the food in the packaging container, and returning the inside of the sterilizing pot to atmospheric pressure, taking out the packaging container and sealing the separating material provided in the packaging container. A heat sterilization method for solid foods, comprising the step of: 2. A packaging container for retort foods, comprising a separating material having a function of separating steam and air but not bacteria and fungi growing in the food.