Food slice de-watering method

• Main Author: Barbara Louise Warburg
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.09.2019
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR PREPARING ANIMAL FEEDING- STUFFS; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES A23B - A23J; HUMAN NECESSITIES; MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR TREATING HARVESTED FRUIT, VEGETABLESOR FLOWER BULBS IN BULK, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PEELING VEGETABLES OR FRUIT IN BULK; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OFNUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES

A method of removing surface water from a water-coated surface of a food slice 2 comprises applying at least one air jet 38 onto the water-containing layer at an air velocity of from 60 to 130 metres per second. The air jet blows at least a proportion of the water-containing layer from the surface of the food slice. The method is of particular use in de-watering slices of potato after washing the slices to remove excess starch, prior to frying the slices to make potato chips. Also disclosed is a method of removing water from a water-coated surface of a food slice comprising providing a belt assembly having upper and lower endless belts 16, 18, defining a product flow path 20 therebetween. Water coated food slices are fed along the product flow path wherein the path has a height which is greater than 200% of the maximum thickness of the food slices. At least one air jet is applied onto the water-containing layer to blow water from the surface of the slices.