Method and product line for in-line processing of food products
AssigneeMarel Further Processing B.V.
InventorPatricia HOEKSTRA-SUURS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and production line for in-line processing of food products. The method comprises the step of co-extruding a food dough into a flow of co-extruded food products having a casing that comprises a protein, or a hybrid casing of a protein and a polymer, wherein the method subsequently comprises the successive steps of: a) subjecting the flow of co-extruded food products to a surface treating step, b) subjecting the flow of food products to a thermal treating step, and c) optionally, subjecting the thermally treated flow of food products to a post-thermal treating step, wherein in step b) the flow of food products is at least subsequently subjected to a first thermal treating step, and a second thermal treating step.
Claims22
-21. (canceled)
A method for in-line processing of food products, comprising the step of co-extruding a food dough into a flow of co-extruded food products having a casing that comprises a protein, or a hybrid casing of a protein and a polymer, wherein the method subsequently comprises the successive steps of:
- a) subjecting the flow of co-extruded food products to a surface treating step, said surface treating step comprises the step of subjecting the flow of food products to a food product strengthening step, such as subjecting the flow of food products to a brine solution;
- b) subjecting the flow of food products obtained in step a) to a thermal treating step;
- and
- c) optionally, subjecting the thermally treated flow of food products to a post-thermal treating step, said post-thermal treating treatment is selected from the group consisting of chilling, surface treating, cooking and packing the flow of food products, wherein in step b) the flow of food products is at least subsequently subjected to a first thermal treating step, and a second thermal treating step.
A production line for in-line processing of food products, the product line comprises:
- a food transport path for transporting the co-extruded food products;
- and
- a co-extrusion unit for extruding a food dough into a flow of co-extruded food products having a casing that comprises a protein, or a hybrid casing of a protein and a polymer, wherein the food transport path successively leads through:
- A) a surface treating unit comprising a strengthening unit for subjecting the flow of co-extruded food products to a food product strengthening step;
- B) a climate unit for subjecting the flow of food products to a thermal treating step;
- and
- C) optionally, a post-thermal treatment unit for subjecting the flow of food products to a post-thermal treating step, said post-thermal treating treatment is selected from the group consisting of chilling, surface treating, cooking and packing the flow of food products, and
- wherein the climate unit is configured to at least subsequently subjecting to a first thermal treating step, a second thermal treating step, and, optionally, one or more further thermal treating steps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.