Method and device for treating eggs in shells

A method of treating eggs in shells comprising the following steps, wherein the steps in which the eggs in shells are heated are conducted in a liquid, gaseous or vaporous medium:

• preheating the eggs in shells to approximately 60° C. at a positive pressure of at least approximately 0.4 bar;
• then shocking the eggs in shells by cooling the eggs in shells at 4 to 5° C.;
• then pasteurizing the eggs in shells by heating the eggs in shells at 70 to 75° C. for 10 to 20 seconds;
• then subjecting the eggs in shells to ultra-high temperature processing by heating the eggs in shells at 140 to 145° C. for 1 to 5 seconds;
• and
• then shocking the eggs in shells by cooling the eggs in shells at 4 to 5° C.

Apparatus for treating eggs in shells by transporting the eggs in shells sequentially to a plurality of units for treating the eggs in shells with a liquid, gaseous or vaporous medium heated or cooled to predetermined temperatures, the apparatus comprising:

• a sterilizing unit for sterilizing the eggs in shells by heating the eggs in shells to approximately 165° C. for 1 to 5 seconds;
• downstream from the sterilizing unit, a first cooling unit for cooling the eggs in shells at 4 to 5° C.;
• downstream from the first cooling unit, a washing unit for washing the eggs in shells with water having substantially no additives at 10 to 20° C. for 3 to 8 minutes;
• downstream from the washing unit, a preheating unit for heating the eggs in shells at approximately 60° C. for 10 to 20 minutes while vibrating the eggs in shells;
• downstream from the preheating unit, a second cooling unit for cooling the eggs in shells at 4 to 5° C.;
• downstream from the second cooling unit, a pasteurizing unit for heating the eggs in shells at 70 to 75° C. for 10 to 20 seconds;
• downstream from the pasteurizing unit, a third cooling unit for cooling the eggs in shells to 4 to 5° C.;
• downstream from the third cooling unit, an ultra-high temperature processing unit for heating the eggs in shells at 140 to 145° C. for 1 to 5 seconds;
• downstream from the ultra-high temperature processing unit, a fourth cooling unit for cooling the eggs in shells at 4 to 5° C.;
• downstream from the fourth cooling unit, a ventilation system for removing by drying any residual moisture on the eggs in shells;
• downstream from the ventilation system, a system for coating the eggs in shells;
• downstream from the coating system, a cold-drying unit for drying the coating on the eggs in shells;
• and
• downstream from the cold-drying unit, a packaging unit.

Apparatus for treating eggs in shells with a liquid, gaseous or vaporous medium, comprising:

• a sterilization section for sterilizing and adjusting temperature of the medium, the sterilization section comprising a heat transfer section, tanks for storage of sterilized medium and units for heating or cooling the sterilized medium;
• downstream from the sterilization unit, a preheating section for preheating the eggs in shells to approximately 60° C. at a positive pressure of at least approximately 0.4 bar;
• downstream from the preheating section, a section for shock-cooling the eggs in shells to a temperature of 4 to 5° C.;
• and
• downstream from the shock-cooling section, a pasteurizing section for pasteurizing the eggs in shells.