Process to recover oil from crumbs, food particles and carbohydrate matrices

A process for the separation of cooking oil from oil laden food crumbs, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing food crumbs which contain cooking oil to a first mixing container;
• b. providing water to the food crumbs in the first mixing container, the water being above a minimum temperature sufficient to effect separation of the food crumbs and oil, resulting in a combination of food crumbs, oil and water;
• c. agitating tile combination of food crumbs, oil and water in the first mixing container;
• d. allowing an upper portion of the combination of food crumbs, oil and water in the first mixing container to flow into a second mixing container;
• e. agitating the combination of food crumbs, oil and water in the second mixing container;
• f. allowing an upper portion of the combination of food crumbs, oil and water in the first mixing container to flow into a non-turbulent settling container where the combination of food crumbs, water and oil is allowed to stratify;
• and
• g. removing stratified oil from the upper portion of the settling container.

A process for the continuous separation of cooking oil from oil laden food crumbs, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a continuous flow of food crumbs which contain oil;
• b. providing a continuous flow of water to the food crumbs, the water being above a minimum temperature sufficient to effect separation of the food crumbs and oil, resulting in a combination of food crumbs, oil and water;
• c. agitating the combination of food crumbs, oil and water;
• d. allowing an upper portion of the combination of food crumbs, oil and water to continuously flow into a non-turbulent settling container where the combination of food crumbs, water and oil stratifies;
• and
• e. removing stratified oil from the settling container.

A process for the continuous separation of cooking oil from oil laden food crumbs, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a continuous flow of food crumbs which contain oil into a first mixing container;
• b. providing a continuous flow of water to the food crumbs in the first mixing container, the water being above a minimum temperature sufficient to effect separation of the food crumbs and oil, resulting in a combination of food crumbs, oil and water;
• c. agitating the combination of food crumbs, oil and water in the first mixing container;
• d. allowing an upper portion of the combination of food crumbs, oil and water in the first mixing container to flow into a second mixing container;
• e. agitating the combination of food crumbs, oil and water in the second mixing container;
• f. allowing an upper portion of the combination of food crumbs, oil and water in the second mixing container to flow into a non-turbulent settling container where the combination of food crumbs, water and oil is allowed to stratify;
• and
• g. removing the separated oil from the settling container.