Infrared based peeling of fruits and vegetables
AssigneesThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Del Monte Foods, Inc.
InventorsZhongli Pan, Tara H. McHugh, James B. Valenti-Jordan, Carlos H. Masareje
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for infrared peeling of fruits and vegetables is disclosed herein.
Claims7
A method for peeling fruits or vegetables comprising (i) exposing the fruit or vegetable to heat from at least one concave infrared emitter or plurality thereof (ii) wherein the distance between the fruit surface and the emitter surface is between 5-40 mm (iii) and the surface temperature of the fruits and vegetables during and after IR heating is 70-100° C. for a time sufficient to promote peeling and a tissue ratio of intercellular/intracellular area ranging from about 25% to 33%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.