A system to control the conditions of an aging room, also known as a conditioned space, for products in which independent feedback loops control the dry bulb temperature and the dew point while controlling the difference between the vapor pressure in the room and the vapor pressure of the products being dried, thereby controlling the amount of and rate of water or water vapor loss of the products and, therefore controlling its quality, the system also including target controls, a thermoelectric cooler and lighting controls.

A system to control the conditions of an aging room, also known as a conditioned space, for products in which independent feedback loops control the dry bulb temperature and the dew point while controlling the difference between the vapor pressure in the room and the vapor pressure of the products being dried, thereby controlling the amount of and rate of water or water vapor loss of the products and, therefore controlling its quality, the system also including target controls, a thermoelectric cooler and lighting controls.

Apparatus and related methods for adding increased functionality to a food dehydrator through the use of stackable drying trays that define a circulation plenum during operation and then nest within one another during disassembly so as to reduce an overall storage size of the food dehydrator. The food dehydrator can further include a base portion having a removable splash guard to prevent the introduction of liquids or solids into a mechanical space within the base portion.

A method of making a porous, crunchy, dehydrated, vegetable, meat or seafood snack product. A piece of vegetable, such as potato, sweet potato, carrot, beet or parsnip, or a piece of meat or seafood, is frozen, forming ice crystals within the piece of food. The frozen piece is exposed to microwave radiation in a microwave-vacuum dehydrator at a vacuum pressure at which the boiling point of water is above 0 C., causing the frozen piece to thaw and water to evaporate from the thawed piece. The evaporation leaves pores that were formed by the ice crystals within the piece of food, resulting in a porous, crunchy, dehydrated snack product.

A process for dehydrating products with a dehydrator that includes a dehydration chamber, a heater for heating air in the dehydration chamber, and a fan for circulating air in the dehydrator includes receiving a set temperature at which to perform the dehydration and a set time for which to perform the dehydration. The process also includes setting the heater to operate in an on condition and setting the fan to run at a low speed until the temperature in the dehydration chamber reaches the set temperature. The process further includes setting the heater to an off condition and setting the fan to run at a high speed when the temperature in the dehydration chamber reaches the set temperature.

Seafood products are made from squid by cleaning a squid by removing arms and tentacles from the squid; removing visceral content from the squid; steam cooking the squid; reducing the moisture content of the squid to between 40% by weight and 72% by weight; and shredding the squid after the step of reducing the moisture content. The shredded squid can be treated with marinades for flavor enhancement to create a variety of world cuisine tastes. The product is ready to serve without further cooking.

Seafood products are made from squid by cleaning a squid by removing arms and tentacles from the squid; removing visceral content from the squid; steam cooking the squid; reducing the moisture content of the squid to between 40% by weight and 72% by weight; and shredding the squid after the step of reducing the moisture content. The shredded squid can be treated with marinades for flavor enhancement to create a variety of world cuisine tastes. The product is ready to serve without further cooking.

The present invention relates to an air-drying plant for air drying cut-up food. The proposed plant consists of a conveyor (10) for cut-up food (1) defining a conveying surface (11), a plurality of blowing conduits (20) with blowing openings (21) channeling a treated airflow at a speed of treatment with a controlled temperature comprised between 4 C. and 60 C. and a controlled humidity; wherein the conveyor includes air treatment segments (12) with conveying surfaces (11) facing and adjacent to said blowing openings (21), said treated airflow being channeled against said conveying surface (11) in an upward or downward direction; and wherein the conveyor (10) also includes idle segments (13) intercalated between said air treatment segments (12), the conveying surface (11) of which is not facing the blowing openings (21), nor is it subjected to an airflow.

A multi-stage separation heat-exchange type drying system is provided. A plurality of first heat exchange blocks of the first main body are installed to be spaced from each other at a predetermined interval, and first vortex generating blocks are installed between the first heat exchange blocks. Also, a plurality of second heat exchange blocks of the second main body are installed to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, and second vortex generating blocks are installed between the second heat exchange blocks. The heat exchange occurs in a manner that the first heat exchange blocks and the second heat exchange blocks corresponding to each other, positioned up and down, exchange a heat medium therebetween.

A multi-stage separation heat-exchange type drying system is provided. A plurality of first heat exchange blocks of the first main body are installed to be spaced from each other at a predetermined interval, and first vortex generating blocks are installed between the first heat exchange blocks. Also, a plurality of second heat exchange blocks of the second main body are installed to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, and second vortex generating blocks are installed between the second heat exchange blocks. The heat exchange occurs in a manner that the first heat exchange blocks and the second heat exchange blocks corresponding to each other, positioned up and down, exchange a heat medium therebetween.