US20150140198A1 - Blade assembly and method of making cut food products - Google Patents

Blade assembly and method of making cut food products Download PDF

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Publication number
US20150140198A1
US20150140198A1 US14/380,841 US201214380841A US2015140198A1 US 20150140198 A1 US20150140198 A1 US 20150140198A1 US 201214380841 A US201214380841 A US 201214380841A US 2015140198 A1 US2015140198 A1 US 2015140198A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
peak
inches
potato
potato slices
ridges
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
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US14/380,841
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English (en)
Inventor
David M. RAWLINGS
Michael S. Jacko
Adam M. Rawlings
Mary Perez
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
McCain Foods USA Inc
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McCain Foods USA Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by McCain Foods USA Inc filed Critical McCain Foods USA Inc
Assigned to MCCAIN FOODS USA, INC. reassignment MCCAIN FOODS USA, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: JACKO, MICHAEL S., PEREZ, Mary, RAWLINGS, Adam M., RAWLINGS, DAVID M.
Publication of US20150140198A1 publication Critical patent/US20150140198A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
    • B26D3/24—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor to obtain segments other than slices, e.g. cutting pies
    • B26D3/26—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor to obtain segments other than slices, e.g. cutting pies specially adapted for cutting fruit or vegetables, e.g. for onions
    • A23L1/2123—
    • A23L1/217—
    • 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
    • A23L19/03—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof consisting of whole pieces or fragments without mashing the original pieces
    • 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
    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
    • B26D1/0006—Cutting members therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
    • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
    • B26D1/02—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a stationary cutting member
    • B26D1/03—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a stationary cutting member with a plurality of cutting members
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
    • B26D7/06—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form
    • B26D7/0691—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form by centrifugal force
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23V—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION
    • A23V2002/00—Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
    • B26D1/0006—Cutting members therefor
    • B26D2001/006—Cutting members therefor the cutting blade having a special shape, e.g. a special outline, serrations
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T83/00—Cutting
    • Y10T83/929—Tool or tool with support
    • Y10T83/9493—Stationary cutter
    • Y10T83/9495—Nonparallel cutting edges

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to lattice or waffle cut vegetables, particularly potatoes, and to an apparatus for cutting same. More particularly, the invention is related to processed lattice cut or waffle cut potatoes that have a crispy texture following cooking. Still more particularly, the invention is related to lattice cut or waffle cut potatoes that achieve a crispy cooked texture without frying.
  • French fries tends to follow a basic process of washing, peeling when desired, cutting, blanching in hot water or steam, drying, frying and freezing or chilling.
  • This process as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,993 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,591, was originally developed to provide French fries for the foodservice market.
  • Corrugated or lattice-cut French fries have been produced by a similar process. Since that time, a trend has developed to live a healthier lifestyle. That trend has included a reduction in the consumption of fried foods. Acknowledging this trend, many restaurants and others in the foodservice industry have reduced or even eliminated their offering of fried foods.
  • the present invention addresses these needs.
  • One aspect of the present invention provides a method of preparing a potato-based food product.
  • the method includes cutting potatoes into slices having first and second major surfaces, the first surface having a plurality of ridges and grooves extending in a first direction, and the second surface having a plurality of ridges and grooves extending in a direction transverse to the first direction, the potato slices having an interior surrounded by an exterior surface, each point in the interior being no more than a predetermined distance from a point on the exterior surface.
  • the potato slices may then be blanched, dipped in a solution to prevent nonenzymic oxidation of the potato slices, dried, parfried, and packaged.
  • the plurality of ridges and grooves in the second surface may be substantially orthogonal to the plurality of ridges and grooves in the first surface.
  • the blanching step may include heating the potato slices in a water bath at a temperature of between about 150° F. and about 200° F., for a time between about 5 minutes and about 20 minutes.
  • the method may include additional steps.
  • One additionally step is freezing of the potato slices.
  • Another additional step is cooking the potato slices without frying.
  • the cooking step may include heating by warm air, or heating by microwave energy.
  • a further step may include preheating the potatoes to soften the potatoes prior to the cutting step.
  • the predetermined distance may be between about 0.055 inches and about 0.175 inches. Preferably, the predetermined distance is about 0.110 inches.
  • Each ridge may have a longitudinal peak, the peaks on the first surface being spaced from the peaks on the second surface by a peak-to-peak thickness measured in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second surfaces, the peak-to-peak thickness being between about 0.110 inches and about 0.350 inches.
  • the peak-to-peak thickness is about 0.220 inches.
  • the grooves on the first surface may intersect with the grooves on the second surface to define a plurality of openings extending through the slice.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is a lattice-cut potato product produced according to the foregoing methods.
  • the cutting blade includes an elongated body having a cutting edge and opposed inner and outer sides, each side having a plurality of alternating longitudinal ridges and grooves extending substantially perpendicular to the cutting edge.
  • Each ridge has a longitudinal peak, the peaks on the inner side being spaced from the peaks on the outer side by a peak-to-peak thickness measured in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second sides, the peak-to-peak thickness being between about 0.108 inches and about 0.118 inches.
  • the peak-to-peak thickness is about 0.113 inches.
  • Each ridge and each groove may have a radius of curvature of about 0.100 inches.
  • a ratio of the interpeak distance to the peak-to-peak thickness is between about 2.90 and about 3.36. More preferably, the ratio of the interpeak distance to the peak-to-peak thickness is between about 3.00 and about 3.20.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus for manufacturing a lattice-cut potato product according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the cutter assembly and cover thereof removed and the hopper thereof disposed in an inoperative position;
  • FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing the operative relationship of the carriage and cutter assembly, with portions in cross-section and a portion of the structure removed to illustrate certain details thereof;
  • FIG. 5 is a partial vertical cross-section of the structure depicted in FIG. 4 , with portions removed in order to illustrate other details of the structure;
  • FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the cutter assembly
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a knife clamp
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a knife
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a knife holder
  • FIG. 10 is a partial horizontal cross-section of a cutter assembly exemplifying the relationship of the elongated segments with respect to one another and to the center of the assembly;
  • FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial horizontal cross-section of portions of the elongated segments and a portion of the carriage showing a product in the act of being cut into the lattice product of the present invention
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the lattice-cut product of the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12 ;
  • FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 12 ;
  • FIG. 15 is a schematic end view of a cutting blade for making the lattice-cut product of FIG. 12 ;
  • FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of the process steps involved in making a potato product according to the present invention.
  • the main components of an apparatus 10 for cutting potatoes into lattice-shaped slices generally include a motor 3 , a stationary cutter assembly 4 supported by a frame, and a carriage assembly 5 disposed in the cutter assembly and rotatable relative to same.
  • a conveyor (not shown) may be employed to feed the potatoes into a hopper 7 above carriage assembly 5 .
  • a pipe (not shown) may be located above apparatus 10 for continuously delivering a small stream of water into carriage 5 in order to free the carriage and the cutter assembly 4 from any accumulation of starch and promote the flow of the potato products therethrough.
  • Motor 3 may be operatively connected to rotatable carriage 5 by a drive shaft 14 and a vertical shaft 15 geared to the drive shaft.
  • One end of drive shaft 14 may be rotatably supported by roller bearing assembly 30 and may be provided with a relatively large pulley 16 having a belt thereon which is driven from a smaller pulley (not shown) carried by the shaft of motor 3 .
  • the other end of drive shaft 14 may be rotatably supported by another roller bearing assembly 32 , and may include a small spiral bevel gear 17 which meshes with a larger bevel gear 18 keyed to the lower end of vertical shaft 15 .
  • Vertical shaft 15 may be rotatably journaled at its lower end by roller bearing assembly 41 and at its upper end by roller bearing assembly 42 .
  • the upper end of vertical shaft 15 may be provided with an annular head 19 on which the carriage 5 is detachably secured.
  • the carriage 5 generally includes a vertically oriented receptacle 45 and four identical tubular guides 46 extending radially outward therefrom at substantially perpendicular angles to one another.
  • Receptacle 45 includes a base wall 47 operatively connected to vertical shaft 15 , and four vertical side walls 48 .
  • Receptacle 45 is open at its top for receiving potatoes from hopper 7 or by other means of introduction.
  • a large circular opening 51 in each side wall 48 defines a passageway between receptacle 45 and the interior of a respective tubular guide 46 .
  • Tubular guides 46 are mounted to receptacle 45 so as to be rotatable relative to the receptacle about their longitudinal axes.
  • Each tubular guide 46 may be provided with a relatively large radial annular flange 65 with an annular portion 66 disposed at an oblique angle to the radial flange.
  • the free edge of each portion 66 includes a plurality of teeth or serrations 67 which are adapted to engage a resilient ring 68 fixedly connected to the support structure of apparatus 10 .
  • the rotation of tubular guides 46 will cause the potatoes therein to rotate by about 90° about their own axes for each quarter turn of carriage assembly 5 , as will be explained further below.
  • Each tubular guide 46 is preferably cylindrical, and includes an annular V-shaped exterior groove 52 adjacent its inner end which serves as a track for receiving three identical roller assemblies 56 secured at equally spaced positions to each side wall of receptacle 45 .
  • a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending ridges 55 may be provided on the inner surface of each tubular guide 46 to assist in rolling or rotating the potatoes as they travel through the guide.
  • the cutter assembly 4 may include four curved elongated segments 74 , 75 , 76 and 77 , each of which has an inner spheroidal surface 81 , an upper horizontal outer flange 82 , and a lower horizontal outer flange 84 .
  • Each of segments 74 - 77 is mounted to an upper annular support 78 by a screw 79 , and to a lower annular support 71 by a pin 90 which is aligned with screw 79 so that each segment is able to pivot about a vertical axis.
  • a curved cutting blade 88 is mounted to the free end of each segment, and the opposite end of each segment terminates in an edge 89 .
  • the thickness of the slices to be cut may be adjusted by pivoting one of the elongated segments relative to the next adjacent elongated segment so as to adjust the distance between the cutting blade 88 on the one segment and the terminal edge 89 on the adjacent segment. Once properly adjusted, screws 80 may be tightened to selectively lock the elongated segments in place.
  • Cutting blades 88 are clamped in place between a blade holder 96 and a clamp 104 mounted at the free end of each of elongated segments 74 - 77 . More particularly, cutting blades 88 are held in place between a corrugated portion 105 of blade holder 96 and a corrugated portion 109 of clamp 104 . In the assembled position, the corrugations of cutting blade 88 are nested or mated with the corrugated portions of the blade holder 96 and the corrugated portions of the clamp 104 , with the cutting edge 112 of the cutting blade protruding outwardly therefrom by a predetermined amount.
  • This amount is fixed by a locating shoulder 106 formed in blade holder 96 at a preset distance from the free edge of corrugated portion 105 . Not only does shoulder 106 fix the amount of cutting blade 88 that protrudes from blade holder 96 and clamp 104 , but it also supports the cutting blade and prevents it from being pushed backward as the cutting blade slices through the potatoes.
  • each cutting blade 88 is located the same radial distance R1 from a point X1 constituting the longitudinal axis of the cutter assembly 4 .
  • the terminal edges 89 of elongated segments 74 - 77 are also all located the same radial distance from point X1, but at a greater distance than R1 due to the fact that the elongated segments have been pivoted in a horizontal plane to provide a discharge passage between the terminal edge 89 of one segment and the cutting blade 88 carried by an adjacent segment.
  • elongated segments 74 - 77 have been adjusted so that, for example, the radial distance R2 from a center X2 to the spheroidal surface 81 of segment 76 is the same as the radial distance R3 from a center X3 to the spheroidal surface 81 of segment 77 .
  • Centers X2 and X3, as well as the centers for the radial distances to the spheroidal surfaces of segments 74 and 75 are equally spaced concentrically about the longitudinal axis X1 of cutter assembly 4 .
  • the potatoes may be washed and peeled, except for those products in which it is desirable for the skin to remain on the potatoes.
  • the potatoes may then be preheated to a temperature between about 90° F. and about 145° F. in a water bath for a time sufficient to slightly soften the potatoes, typically between about 15 minutes and about 45 minutes. This softening facilitates the slicing process, making it easier to obtain full slices of potato. Without this softening step, the potatoes are quite hard and are prone to fracturing before a slice has been completed.
  • the potatoes may be fed into receptacle 45 from hopper 7 or any other feed mechanism.
  • carriage 5 will rotate about its longitudinal axis, and each of tubular guides 46 will rotate about its respective longitudinal axis.
  • the centrifugal force resulting from rotation of carriage 5 will automatically project the potatoes in receptacle 45 radially outward through one of the openings 51 in the receptacle and into the adjacent tubular guide 46 .
  • the rotation of tubular guides 46 along with the longitudinally extending ridges 55 therein cause the potato 113 to rotate about its own axis as it is being forced radially outward against the spheroidal surfaces 81 and cutting blades 88 of cutter assembly 4 .
  • the rotation of the carriage assembly 5 will cause the tubular guide 46 to push a potato 113 therein toward and past the cutting blades 88 , whereby a slice will be cut from the potato as it passes each of the cutting blades.
  • the rotation of tubular guides 46 will cause potato 113 to rotate between slices so that the corrugations on one surface of a slice will be transverse to the corrugations on the other side of the slice.
  • potato 113 will rotate about 90° (or a multiple thereof) about its axis for each 90° rotation of carriage assembly 5 .
  • potato 113 preferably will rotate about 90° between successive slices so that the corrugations on one surface of the potato slice will be substantially orthogonal to the corrugations on the opposite surface of the slice.
  • FIG. 11 shows cutting blades 88 cutting a slice 114 from potato 113 .
  • the slice has curved ridges 115 extending in a first direction on one side and curved ridges 116 extending in a second direction on its opposite side, the second direction being transverse to the first direction.
  • the first and second directions are substantially perpendicular to one another.
  • FIG. 12 depicts a portion of the lattice-cut product produced by apparatus 10 .
  • Lattice-cut potatoes according to the present invention are generally in the form of a slice 114 having an ellipsoid outer periphery which would depend, to a large extent, on the shape of the potato being sliced.
  • Each ridge 115 on one surface of slice 114 has a longitudinal peak 119 with a radius of curvature R of about 0.100 inches.
  • Similar ridges 116 with longitudinal peaks 121 having a radius of curvature of about 0.100 inches are on the opposite surface of slice 114 .
  • a groove or channel 122 is formed between each pair of ridges 115
  • a similar groove or channel 124 is formed between each pair of ridges 116 so that each surface of slice 114 is provided with alternating ridges and grooves.
  • the slices 114 may have a thickness from the peaks 119 on one surface of the slice to the peaks 121 on the other surface of the slice of between about 0.110 inches and about 0.350 inches measured in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second surfaces, with a thickness of about 0.220 inches being preferred.
  • the thickness of the slice may be adjusted by adjusting the positions of elongated segments 74 - 77 of apparatus 10 . When segments 74 - 77 are adjusted to produce a slice of appropriate thickness, the cutting blades 88 will cut to a predetermined depth so that the grooves formed on one surface of the slice will intersect with the grooves formed on the other surface of the slice to produce a multiplicity of openings 120 extending through the slice.
  • FIG. 15 A schematic end view of a cutting blade 88 for producing a lattice-cut potato slice 114 as described above is shown in FIG. 15 .
  • the cutting blade has a generally sinusoidal configuration formed by alternating longitudinal ridges 200 and grooves 210 which extend substantially perpendicular to the cutting edge 112 .
  • the ridges 200 and grooves 210 have a radius of curvature R of about 0.100 inches.
  • the peak-to-peak thickness T p-p between the ridges 200 on an inner side 220 of the blade and the ridges 200 on an outer side 230 of the blade is preferably between about 0.108 inches and about 0.118 inches, and the cycle length L p-p between the peak of one ridge 200 and the peak of the next adjacent ridge on the same side of the blade is preferably between about 0.328 inches and about 0.380 inches.
  • a peak-to-peak thickness of about 0.113 inches and a cycle length of about 0.345 inches are highly preferred. Blades with a T p-p of about 0.113 inches and an L p-p of between about 0.328 inches and about 0.380 inches produce an L p-p /T p-p ratio of between about 2.90 and about 3.36.
  • the range in peak-to-peak thickness may be greater when the L p-p /T p-p ratio is within a narrower range. Therefore, for cutting blades in which the peak-to-peak thickness is between about 0.108 and about 0.118 inches, the L p-p /T p-p ratio is preferably between about 3.00 and about 3.20.
  • the potato slices 114 are dried at step 550 .
  • the drying step occurs in an elevated temperature environment, such as a forced air dryer.
  • the elevated temperature may be between about 85° F. and about 120° F. for a period of about 10 minutes to about 14 minutes.
  • the dried potato slices 114 are then parfried at step 560 to achieve a total solids content of between about 48 wt % and about 68 wt %.
  • the temperature of the oil in the parfrying step is preferably between about 330° F. and about 400° F.
  • excess oil optionally may be removed from the surface of the potato slices using an Oil Miser® oil recovery system available from Reyco Systems, Inc., of Caldwell, Id. Such step ensures a uniform oil content among the potato slices.
  • the potato slices may then be equilibrated at step 570 . Equilibration may take place at a temperature of between about 70° F. and about 110° F. for about 1 minute to remove residual heat and moisture from potato slices 114 .
  • the equilibrated potato slices 114 may be frozen in a conventional manner at step 580 . Freezing may be effected by a spiral freezer or any other conventional freezing apparatus known in the art. The frozen potato slices may be packaged at step 590 and stored in freezers at step 600 .
  • the final cooking of the potato slices may be performed by a customer in the foodservice trade or by a retail customer at step 610 .
  • Cooking may be accomplished in a number of ways, but the preferred method does not involve frying in oil.
  • the frozen potato slices 114 may be spread on an oven-safe sheet or other container and baked in a hot air environment, such as an oven.
  • the potato slices may be heated in a conventional oven at between about 350° F. and about 450° F. for between about 2 minutes and about minutes. Cooking at about 425° F. for about 3.5 minutes is particularly preferred.
  • Cooking may also take place in a convection oven. In such event, the cooking temperature may be about the same as in a conventional oven, but the cooking time may be between about 1 minute and about 4 minutes, with a cooking time of about 2.5 minutes being preferred.
  • a still further cooking method may include a combination of hot air and microwave energy.
  • This method may include heating the potato slices in a Turbochef® oven (available from Turbochef Technologies, Inc. of Carrollton, Tex.) at a temperature of about 1150° F. for between about 20 seconds and about 30 seconds using both hot air and microwave energy.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nutrition Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Fruits And Vegetables (AREA)
  • Food-Manufacturing Devices (AREA)
US14/380,841 2012-06-29 2012-06-29 Blade assembly and method of making cut food products Abandoned US20150140198A1 (en)

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PCT/US2012/045058 WO2014003789A1 (fr) 2012-06-29 2012-06-29 Ensemble lame et procédé de fabrication de produits alimentaires coupés

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EP (1) EP2866584B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2012383492B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR112014032631A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2877930C (fr)
IN (1) IN2015DN00436A (fr)
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Cited By (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017053933A1 (fr) * 2015-09-24 2017-03-30 Urschel Laboratories, Inc. Trancheuses, ensembles à lame, et procédés de découpage en tranches de produits
WO2020072741A1 (fr) 2018-10-03 2020-04-09 Urschel Laboratories, Inc. Machines de tranchage et procédé pour trancher des produits
US11173622B2 (en) * 2019-01-09 2021-11-16 Frito-Lay North America, Inc. Apparatus and method for adjusting the cutting thickness of a food cutting apparatus

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US20170197323A1 (en) 2017-07-13
CA2877930A1 (fr) 2014-01-03
US10759072B2 (en) 2020-09-01
AU2012383492A1 (en) 2015-02-05
BR112014032631A2 (pt) 2017-10-10
EP2866584A4 (fr) 2015-12-23
PL2866584T3 (pl) 2018-09-28
EP2866584A1 (fr) 2015-05-06
AU2012383492B2 (en) 2016-09-29
EP2866584B1 (fr) 2018-05-02
WO2014003789A1 (fr) 2014-01-03
CA2877930C (fr) 2018-01-02

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