Method of treating a food object in an electrostatic field
OwnerAkinori Itoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of treating a food object in an electrostatic field to thaw food rapidly at temperatures between 0° C. and a freezing temperature of an object to be treated. By applying the electrostatic field, the freezing temperature of the food is lowered but the food does not freeze in the electrostatic field. Accordingly, foods are kept fresher longer and the freshness can be maintained over a range of temperatures.
Claims14
A method of treating a food object in an electrostatic field, comprising the steps of:
- placing a conductive electrode in an insulated atmosphere to impress a voltage on the conductive electrode to generate an electrostatic field around the conductive electrode;
- placing the food object to be treated in the electrostatic field in an insulated state;
- establishing a freezing temperature of the food object on a basis of a relationship between a kind of the food object and a voltage to be impressed thereon;
- and
- storing the food object at a temperature between 0° C. and the freezing temperature of the food object.
A method of treating a frozen food object in an electrostatic field, comprising the steps of:
- placing a conductive electrode in an insulated atmosphere to impress a voltage on the conductive electrode to generate an electrostatic field around the conductive electrode;
- placing the food object to be treated in the electrostatic field in a insulated state;
- adjusting the temperature of the food object to quickly raise the temperature of the food object to approximately −5° C.;
- and
- then thawing the food object in the electrostatic field.
A method of setting a temperature of a food object placed in an electrostatic field comprising the steps of:
- selecting the temperature to which the food object is to be set;
- selecting a voltage based on the selected temperature and composition of the food object;
- applying the selected voltage to a conductive electrode in a thermally conductive atmosphere to generate an electrostatic field around the conductive electrode;
- and
- placing the food object in the electrostatic field in the thermally insulated atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.