JP3849039B2 - Tofu manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for producing tofu characterized by a step of coagulating and molding soymilk by adding a coagulant to soymilk.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the production of tofu, a coagulant is added to soy milk and mixed and stirred. At that time, coagulants having different coagulation characteristics are used for the target tofu such as kinugushi tofu, rice bran tofu, and deep-fried tofu. The temperature of soy milk when adding a coagulant varies from high to low. Still, there are few problems when making one kind of tofu.
[0003]
The problem lies in how to improve productivity, production control, and high quality in the case of mass production of a large variety of small rod tofu. Magnesium chloride (Nigari) has long been known as a traditional coagulant for obtaining a tofu with a good flavor, and this is a fast-acting coagulant. For this reason, when soy milk and a coagulant are mixed and stirred in a single mixing tank, primary coagulation starts, which is not suitable for transferring to a molding box. For this reason, measures such as adding a stabilizer for preventing primary coagulation to soy milk are taken, and the amount of addition and temperature management are cumbersome and the manufacturing cost is high.
[0004]
In consideration of these points, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, soy milk and a coagulant (nigari) are placed in a molding box, mixed and stirred with a stirrer, and the stirrer is pulled up from the soymilk to solidify the soymilk in the molding box. Molded.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2507250 (paragraph number 0014, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-65846 (paragraph number 0020, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above Patent Documents 1 and 2, the stirrer can be moved up and down with respect to the molding box whose upper surface is open, and the upper surface of the molding box remains open even when mixing and stirring with the stirrer. . This is equivalent to actively incorporating air into soy milk during mixing and stirring, and far from improving the quality of products and tofu. Measures such as adding an antifoaming agent are also not preferable in terms of food hygiene.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a tofu production method in which the material and temperature of soymilk when coagulating soymilk, and the type of coagulant, whether fast-acting or slow-acting, can be freely and arbitrarily selected according to the target tofu. is there. In particular, there is a method for producing tofu that is advantageous for coagulating soymilk using a fast-acting coagulant.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to efficiently produce high-quality tofu so as not to bite air during mixing and stirring of soy milk and a coagulant.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the tofu production method of the present invention, soy milk and a coagulant are filled in a molded box, and the soy milk and the coagulant are mixed and stirred in a sealed box in the filled state to coagulate and mold. It is characterized by doing. Basically, the soy milk is put in the molding box first and then the coagulant is injected, but when using low-temperature soy milk or slow-acting coagulant, soy milk and coagulant are put in the molding box simultaneously. Includes format.
[0010]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the method of the present invention according to claim 2 includes a step of positioning and setting one of a plurality of molding boxes 1 whose upper surfaces are open, and the upper surface of the molding box 1 is covered at the working position. 4, the step of closing in a sealed state, the step of filling soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 into the molding box 1 from the lid 4 side, and the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 with the stirrer 9 in the molding box 1. And a step of removing the lid 4 from the molding box 1 and recovering the molding box 1 and a step of removing the bare tofu from the molding box 1. The lid 4 is switched between a closed posture and an open posture with respect to the molding box 1, and the posture switching is performed by moving one of the lid 4 side and the molding box 1 side, or both of them relatively. Just do it. In the step of charging the soymilk 25 into the molding box 1, it is possible to put the soymilk 25 in the molding box 1 to a certain extent and add the soymilk 25 to fill it up.
[0011]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the soymilk 25 is filled into each of the plurality of molding boxes 1 whose upper surfaces are opened, and the upper surface of the molding box 1 is closed in a sealed manner with the lid 4 at the working position. A step, a step of injecting the coagulant 26 into the molding box 1 from the lid 4 side, a step of mixing and stirring the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 with the stirrer 9 in the molding box 1, and the lid 4 from the molding box 1. Is removed, and the molding box 1 is recovered, and the bare tofu is removed from the molding box 1. In this case, since the soy milk 25 is filled in advance in each molding box 1, when the lid 4 is put, a part of the soy milk 25 overflows from the upper surface of the molding box 1. The air inside is pushed out.
[0012]
In the step of removing the naked tofu from the molding box 1, the naked tofu may be taken out after being cut into a predetermined shape in the molding box 1 in advance. Of course, after removing the naked tofu from the molding box 1, it may be cut one by one.
[0013]
The concentration of soymilk to be used, the temperature at the time of coagulation, etc. are not limited. For coagulants, natural bittern (containing magnesium chloride), magnesium chloride, calcium sulfate, monobasic calcium phosphate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate, magnesium sulfate, glucono delta lactone, transglutaminase, etc., corresponding to the target tofu. Or in combination. Among these, especially when making kinushi tofu, injecting a fast-acting coagulant 26 mainly composed of magnesium chloride into the molding box 1 after charging the high-temperature soy milk 25 into a full state. (Claim 4). According to this, primary coagulation has begun at the time of mixing and stirring the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 in the molding box 1, and the production cycle can be improved.
[0014]
The method of the present invention according to claim 5 includes the steps of continuously feeding and positioning and setting each molding box 1 for tofu distribution having an upper surface opened to the working position, and sealing the opening upper surface of each molding box 1 with a lid 4. The soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 are filled into the molding box 1 from the lid 4 side, and the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 are mixed and stirred with the stirrer 9 in the molding box 1. And a step of removing the lid 4 from the molding box 1 and recovering the molding box 1 from the working position. The molding box 1 in this case is a distribution container 30 shown in FIG. 2 and has a small capacity to store one tofu.
[0015]
The method of the present invention as set forth in claim 6 includes a step of filling soymilk 25 into each molding box 1 for circulation of tofu with an open top surface, and continuously feeding each molding box 1 to the working position, The step of closing the upper surface of the opening of the molding box 1 with the lid 4, the step of injecting the coagulant 26 into the molding box 1 from the lid 4 side, and the soy milk 25 and the coagulant with the stirrer 9 in the molding box 1 26 and a step of removing the lid 4 from the molding box 1 and recovering the molding box 1 from the working position. The molding box 1 in this case is also the distribution container 30 in FIG. 2 in which one tofu is contained, and the tofu is made in substantially the same manner as in the third aspect.
[0016]
7. The tofu manufacturing method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each molding box 1 after the collection step is packed with a packaging film 31 that closes the upper surface of the opening as shown in FIG. Specifically, the packaging film 31 is heat sealed to the molding box 1.
[0017]
[Action]
As the molding box 1, many capacities for obtaining 5 to 30 cut tofu are prepared. For example, after solidified tofu is cut into a predetermined shape one by one in the molding box 1, the molding box 1 Take out the cut tofu P. However, in the case of the distribution molding boxes 1, one tofu for each molding box 1 is made and individually packaged as it is for distribution.
[0018]
The method of the present invention is suitable for making sushi tofu using a fast-acting coagulant mainly composed of magnesium chloride such as natural bittern, but it can also be widely applied to rice tofu etc. It can also be used for manufacturing. In the case where the coagulant has a slow action, the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 may be put into the molding box 1 at the same time.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the upper surface of the opening of the molding box 1 is closed with the lid 4 and the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 are filled in the molding box 1 with the stirrer 9 under mixing. To do. Therefore, at the time of mixing and stirring, air is not bitten into the soy milk 25, and high-quality tofu that does not contain bubbles in the tofu essence is obtained. During mixing and stirring, the soy milk 25 does not scatter from the molding box 1 to the outside.
[0020]
After mixing and stirring the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 in one molding box 1, the soy milk 25 is coagulated and molded in the same molding box 1, so whether the soy milk 25 is hot or cold, or is the coagulant 26 fast acting? Regardless of whether it is slow-acting or not, only to select the concentration of soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 that suits it, according to the target tofu, it is possible to efficiently produce homogeneous tofu constantly even for non-experts. .
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the tofu production apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention, several molding boxes 1 having an open top surface are prepared, and a table 2 on which the molding box 1 is placed as shown in FIG. A column 3 erected on the floor, a unit A including a lid 4 that closes the upper surface of the opening of the molding box 1, a drive unit that is provided on the column 3 to drive the unit A up and down, a soy milk tank 5, and a solidification The agent tank 6 is provided.
[0022]
The unit A includes a flat lid 4 fixed to the lower surface of the unit frame 7, a stirrer 9 that is rotatably provided so as to protrude downward at the center of the lower surface of the lid 4, and is installed in the unit frame 7 for stirring. And a motor 10 that rotationally drives the child 9.
[0023]
The driving means of the unit A includes an air cylinder 11 disposed on the support 3 side, and the lower end of the piston rod 12 of the air cylinder 11 is connected to the upper surface of the unit frame 7. By extending and retracting the piston rod 12 of the air cylinder 11, the unit A has a closed posture in which the upper surface of the molding box 1 is closed in a sealed manner via the packing 13 provided on the lower surface of the lid 4. Is switched to an open posture that disengages above the molding box 1.
[0024]
In the lid 4, the soymilk inlet 15 and the coagulant inlet 16 are provided at positions separated from each other, and an overflow outlet 17 is provided at a position away from the soymilk inlet 15. The soymilk inlet 15 of the lid 4 and the soymilk tank 5 are connected in communication by a pipe (hose) 20 via a soymilk feed pump 19. Similarly, the coagulant inlet 16 of the lid 4 and the coagulant tank 6 are connected by a pipe (hose) 22 via a coagulant feed pump 21.
[0025]
A typical usage example of this tofu production apparatus will be described. Since the unit A is in an upward open (standby) posture, an empty molding box 1 is placed at a work position on the table 2 and the upper surface of the opening is directly below the lid 4. Set so that it is located at.
[0026]
When the drive switch of the entire apparatus is turned on in this state, the air cylinder 11 is first actuated to lower the unit A, and the lid 4 pushes the periphery of the upper end opening of the molding box 1 through the packing 13 to open the molding box 1. Close the top surface tightly.
[0027]
Next, the soymilk feed pump 19 is activated, and the soymilk 25 in the soymilk tank 5 is fed into the molding box 1 through the soymilk inlet 15 so as to be filled. At that time, the partially overflowing soy milk 25 is collected from the overflow outlet 17. Specifically, the soymilk inlet 15, the coagulant inlet 16 and the overflow outlet 17 are provided with electromagnetic valves (not shown), and when the soymilk 25 is put into the molding box 1, the soymilk inlet 15 side and the overflow outlet are provided. The electromagnetic valve on the 17 side is open and the electromagnetic valve on the coagulant inlet 16 side is closed. Since the internal capacity of the molding box 1 is known, for example, the soymilk 25 can be always filled in the molding box 1 by controlling the amount of soymilk 25 fed by the soymilk feed pump 19 with a timer or the like. The air in the molding box 1 is pushed out of the overflow outlet 17 as the soymilk 25 is filled therein.
[0028]
When the soymilk 25 is filled to the state where the molding box 1 does not have a gas phase portion, the driving of the soymilk feed pump 19 is stopped, the solenoid valve at the soymilk inlet 15 is closed, and the solenoid valve at the coagulant inlet 16 is opened to coagulate. The agent feed pump 21 is activated. Thus, the coagulant 26 in the coagulant tank 6 is injected into the molding box 1 through the coagulant inlet 16. At this time, the solenoid valve provided in the overflow outlet 17 is also closed. Since the amount of the coagulant 26 added to the soy milk 25 is very small, the coagulant 26 can be pushed in without any trouble even when the molding box 1 is filled with the soy milk 25. However, the coagulant may be injected into the molding box 1 while removing the soy milk 25 or air from the molding box 1. The amount of the coagulant 26 injected can be set to a prescribed value by controlling the amount of the coagulant feed pump 21 in advance with a timer or the like since the capacity of the molding box 1, that is, the amount of soy milk 25 used is known.
[0029]
When the injection of the coagulant 26 is completed, the electromagnetic valve at the coagulant inlet 16 is closed, and the motor 10 is immediately activated to drive the stirrer 9 to rotate. However, the stirrer 9 may already be stirring the soy milk 25 before the coagulant 26 is injected. Thus, the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 in the molding box 1 are mixed and stirred for a specified time in a hermetically filled state. At the time of this mixing and stirring, the upper surface of the molding box 1 is sealed with the lid 4, so that the internal soy milk 25 or the like does not scatter outside, and no outside air flows into the molding box 1. There is no air inside.
[0030]
Finally, the air cylinder 11 is operated, and the unit A is retracted to the upper open position. As a result, the lid 4 is removed from the upper surface of the molding box 1 and the stirrer 9 is also pulled up from the molding box 1. Next, the molding box 1 on the table 2 is moved to another place with the soymilk 25 mixed with the coagulant 26 inside, and finally coagulated and molded there. This is one cycle. Thereafter, a new empty molding box 1 is set on the table 2 again, and the mixing and stirring process of the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 is repeated in the same manner.
[0031]
What should be noted here is that the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 put in one molding box 1 are mixed and stirred and then coagulated and molded in the same molding box 1.
[0032]
For example, when one molding box 1 has a capacity for obtaining 20 tons of naked tofu, after cutting the naked tofu into the molding box 1 one by one, the cut tofu P in the molding box 1 is taken out into the water tank. . Alternatively, after removing the naked tofu from the molding box 1 into the water tank, it can be cut one by one. Each cut tofu P is individually packaged in a distribution container 30 in FIG. The distribution container 30 here means a packaging container (tray) itself for displaying cut tofu at a store.
[0033]
That is, the cut tofu P is put into the distribution container 30 whose upper surface is opened one by one, and the upper surface of the opening is hermetically sealed with the packaging film 31 for pack packaging.
[0034]
Next, an example of a specific tofu production method using the above-described tofu production apparatus will be described.
[0035]
(Example 1) Using a high-temperature soy milk 25 and using a fast-acting coagulant 26 mainly composed of magnesium chloride, an empty molded box 1 having a capacity of 20 cut tofu as described above is used as a table 2 After positioning and setting at the upper working position and closing the opening upper surface of the molding box 1 with the lid 4, the soymilk 25 is charged into the molding box 1 from the soymilk inlet 15 on the lid 4 side, and the stirrer 9 While stirring the soy milk 25, the coagulant 26 is injected into the molding box 1 from the coagulant inlet 16 on the lid 4 side, and the soy milk 25 and the coagulant 26 are mixed and stirred with the stirrer 9 in the molding box 1 for a certain time. The soymilk 25 was first coagulated. Next, the unit A is driven up, the lid 4 and the stirrer 9 are retracted upward, and then the molding box 1 is moved from the table 2 to another place and left to stand. Soy milk 25 was coagulated and molded.
[0036]
(Example 2) Soy milk 25 corresponding to approximately 80% of the inner volume is placed in the molding box 1, the molding box 1 is set at a work position on the table 2, and the lid 4 is used to form the molding box 1. The upper surface of the opening was sealed, and soy milk 25 was added and filled into the molding box 1 from the soy milk inlet 15 on the lid 4 side. Others were the same as Example 1.
[0037]
(Embodiment 3) An empty molding box 1 is sent to the work position on the table 2, and the soymilk 25 is filled in the molding box 1 in a state where the lid 4 is retracted upward, and then the molding box is filled. The lid 4 is closed to the upper surface of the opening 1 so that the internal soymilk 25 partially overflows from the molding box 1, and then the coagulant 26 is injected into the molding box 1 from the coagulant inlet 16 on the lid 4 side. . Others were the same as in Example 1. Here, the soymilk 25 is filled in the molding box 1 without using the soymilk inlet 15 on the lid 4 side.
[0038]
Example 4 The procedure was the same as Example 1 except that a slow-acting agent was used as the coagulant 26. In this case, however, the molded box 1 collected from the table 2 was allowed to stand for a longer time than Example 1 to be solidified and molded, and then naked tofu was taken out from the corresponding molded box 1.
[0039]
(Example 5) The procedure was the same as Example 1 except that low-temperature soymilk 25 was used. However, in this case, the soymilk 25 inside the molding box 1 collected from the table 2 was boiled and the coagulation / molding of the soymilk 25 was promoted, and then the naked tofu was taken out from the molding box 1.
[0040]
Example 6 A distribution container (tray) 30 shown in FIG. In this case, a large number of empty molding boxes (distribution containers 30) 1 were intermittently transferred to the work position on the table 2 in the same manner as in Example 1. Thereafter, the upper surface of the opening of the molded box 1 containing tofu recovered from the table 2 was heat sealed with a packaging film 31 and sealed.
[0041]
(Example 7) After filling low temperature soymilk 25 into each molding box (distribution container 30) 1 as in Example 6 in a state of overflowing, each molding box 1 is set at a work position on the table 2 Then, after sealing the upper surface of the opening of the molding box 1 so that a part of the soy milk 25 inside the lid 4 overflows, the fast-acting coagulant 26 is introduced into the molding box 1 from the coagulant inlet 16 on the lid 4 side. Injected. Next, the upper surface of the opening of the molding box 1 was sealed with the packaging film 31 and heated by boiling until the soymilk 25 was solidified and molded.
[0042]
In the illustrated example, the air cylinder 11 is used as the driving means of the unit A including the lid 4 and the unit A is moved up and down. However, the unit A is supported by a swing arm and the lid 4 is The swinging operation may be performed over a downward posture in which the molding box 1 is closed and a posture in which the molding box 1 is retracted obliquely upward. The unit A including the lid 4 is fixed, and the entire upper surface of the table 2 or only the table portion that receives the molding box 1 is moved up and down so that the upper surface of the opening of the molding box 1 is closed with the lid 4 at the fixed position. Also good. In any case, in the first, second, fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments, the soymilk 25 can be simultaneously poured into the molding box 1 while the lid 4 is closed to the molding box 1. The molding box 1 may be intermittently transferred to the work position continuously by a conveyor.
[0043]
The lid 4 of the present invention closes the upper surface of the opening of the molding box 1 and prevents the outside air from flowing into the molding box 1 while preventing the soy milk 25 from splashing upward and outward during mixing and stirring. As long as that is the case, the lid 4 substantially seals the molding box 1, and the soymilk 25 may be put into the molding box 1 in a substantially full state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of the entire apparatus. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of a product / tofu packaging structure.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Molding box 2 Table 3 Support | pillar 4 Lid 5 Soy milk tank 6 Coagulant tank 9 Stirrer 10 Motor 11 Air cylinder 13 Packing 15 Soy milk inlet 16 Coagulant inlet 25 Soy milk 26 Coagulant

Claims (7)

Tofu production, characterized in that soy milk and coagulant are filled in a molding box, and the soy milk and coagulant are mixed and stirred in a molded box that is sealed in its full state. Method. Positioning and setting one of a plurality of molding boxes whose upper surfaces are open at the working position;
A process of closing the upper surface of the opening of the molding box in a sealed manner with a lid;
A step of charging soy milk into the molding box from the lid side in a full state,
Injecting a coagulant into the molding box from the lid side;
Mixing and stirring soy milk and a coagulant with a stirrer in a molding box;
Removing the lid from the molding box and collecting the molding box;
A method for producing tofu comprising the step of removing naked tofu from a molded box. A step of charging soy milk into a plurality of molding boxes whose upper surfaces are open,
A process of closing the upper surface of the opening of the molding box in a sealed manner with a lid at the working position;
Injecting a coagulant into the molding box from the lid side;
Mixing and stirring soy milk and a coagulant with a stirrer in a molding box;
Removing the lid from the molding box and collecting the molding box;
A method for producing tofu comprising the step of removing naked tofu from a molded box. The method for producing tofu according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a fast-acting coagulant is added to the molding box after filling high-temperature soymilk. A process of continuously feeding and setting each molding box for tofu distribution whose upper surface opens to the working position; and
A process of closing the upper surface of each molding box in a sealed manner with a lid;
A step of charging soy milk into the molding box from the lid side in a full state,
Injecting a coagulant into the molding box from the lid side;
In the molding box, mixing and stirring soy milk and the coagulant with a stirring bar,
A tofu production method comprising a step of removing a lid from a molding box and recovering the molding box from the working position. A step of charging soy milk into each molded box for circulation of tofu with the upper surface opened,
A process of continuously feeding each molding box to the working position and closing the upper surface of each molding box in a sealed manner with a lid;
Injecting a coagulant into the molding box from the lid side;
In the molding box, mixing and stirring soy milk and the coagulant with a stirring bar,
A tofu production method comprising a step of removing a lid from a molding box and recovering the molding box from the working position. The tofu production method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each molding box after the collection step is individually packed and packaged with a packaging film that closes the upper surface of the opening.

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