A method for producing dry pasta comprising the steps of: preparing with durum wheat flour, or soft wheat flour, and water a dough having humidity comprised between 25% and 35%; placing the dough in a chamber in which a vacuum is created comprised between 0.1 bar and 0.5 bar; pushing the dough through a drawing device by applying to the dough pressure comprised 80 bar and 110 bar, to obtain food pasta in the form of units of long pasta or units of short pasta; conveying and delivering said pasta to a dryer; drying said pasta in said dryer until the humidity of the pasta is not greater than 12.5%, said drying including heating said pasta in said dryer to a set temperature and maintaining the pasta at said set temperature for a set interval of time; extracting said dried pasta from said dryer;
wherein said heating is obtained by passing the pasta inside an oscillating electromagnetic field having a frequency comprised between 10 MHz and 100 MHz.

An apparatus for producing dry food pasta including a kneading and drawing device configured for producing both long pasta and short pasta, a first dryer configured for drying long pasta produced by said kneading and drawing device, a second dryer configured for drying short pasta produced by said kneading and drawing device; said first dryer and said second dryer are equipped with a plurality of pairs of electrodes between which an electromagnetic field oscillating at a frequency comprised 10 MHz and 100 MHz is created by a generator of oscillating electromagnetic field.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to preparation, modified atmosphere and high pressure pasteurization steps for treatment of retail fresh protein preparations. Protein is prepared and subsequently packaged in a modified atmosphere lacking significant amounts of oxygen and then exposed to high-pressure pasteurization. During preparation the protein may be exposed to aqueous ozone further reducing the microbial load, extending shelf-life, and increasing product safety.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to preparation, modified atmosphere and high pressure pasteurization steps for treatment of retail fresh protein preparations. Protein is prepared and subsequently packaged in a modified atmosphere lacking significant amounts of oxygen and then exposed to high-pressure pasteurization. During preparation the protein may be exposed to aqueous ozone further reducing the microbial load, extending shelf-life, and increasing product safety.

Soft plant foods and a method of producing the same are revealed. The method includes steps of (a) providing a plant food; (b) immersing the plant food in a decomposition-enhancing enzyme solution; (c) performing a plurality of instances of high-pressure treatment on the plant food immersed in the decomposition-enhancing enzyme solution; (d) allowing the plant food having finished step (c) to react at 40 to 65° C. for 20 to 60 minutes; and (e) applying a pressure of at least 400 MPa on the plant food having finished step (d) for 3 to 10 minutes. The method is effective in speeding up the production process and preventing loss of nutrients of the plant foods.

Device and method suitable for disinfecting herbs using plasma are disclosed. The device comprises a chamber and two sets of electrodes in an opposed position one relative to the other, inside the chamber. Each electrode in one set has a counterpart electrode in the other set, the two electrodes positioned facing each other and being configured to connect to a RF HV power supply, to produce a plasma-generating EM field in the space between the electrodes. The device further comprises a dielectric carrier positioned inside the chamber in the space between the two sets of electrodes, the carrier being dimensioned and configured to carry herbs in granular form such as powder or particles thereon. A portable sealable container comprising a unidirectional valve is also disclosed, configured to store herbs thereinside during plasma treatment in the device, and to store the disinfected herbs after treatment under vacuum. A device for disinfecting herbs by evaporating a disinfection agent in an evacuated chamber is also disclosed where plasma is used in any of several methods to enhance, improve and expedite the disinfection process.

Device and method suitable for disinfecting herbs using plasma are disclosed. The device comprises a chamber and two sets of electrodes in an opposed position one relative to the other, inside the chamber. Each electrode in one set has a counterpart electrode in the other set, the two electrodes positioned facing each other and being configured to connect to a RF HV power supply, to produce a plasma-generating EM field in the space between the electrodes. The device further comprises a dielectric carrier positioned inside the chamber in the space between the two sets of electrodes, the carrier being dimensioned and configured to carry herbs in granular form such as powder or particles thereon. A portable sealable container comprising a unidirectional valve is also disclosed, configured to store herbs thereinside during plasma treatment in the device, and to store the disinfected herbs after treatment under vacuum. A device for disinfecting herbs by evaporating a disinfection agent in an evacuated chamber is also disclosed where plasma is used in any of several methods to enhance, improve and expedite the disinfection process.

A device for indicating exposure to a pressure. The device may include a base layer, a plurality of microcapsules, and a coating, with the microcapsules being disposed between the base layer and the coating. The microcapsules contain a indicator material that can be released once the microcapsules burst. The microcapsules then have a compressive bursting strength that is chosen or designed to be less than a selected pressure (e.g., the pressure being that to which a particular article may be exposed during high pressure processing). Thus, when the device is subjected to a pressure greater than the compressive bursting strength, at least some microcapsules burst, the indicator material is released from the microcapsules, and the release of the indicator material can be detected by observation of the device. The device may be a label that is associated (such as by being affixed) to the article being subjected to pressure (or multiple labels being associated (such as by being affixed) to multiple articles. Alternatively, the device may be associated with an article or articles without being affixed thereto.

A digital pressure canner and related methods of operation that provide for improved safety and consistency during a food canning process by reducing temperature over and undershoot. The digital pressure canner includes a digital control operating with inputs from digital sensors to accurately control the canning temperature during the canning process. By reducing over and undershoot of canning temperatures, foods within the pressure canner are maintained at temperatures sufficient to kill any bacteria or microorganisms for the entire canning cycle. In order to verify operation of the digital canner at sufficient canning temperatures, mechanical safety devices, for example, a pressure relief valve can be utilized in conjunction with digital controllers and sensors to provide audible and visual feedback to a user during the canning process.

A digital pressure canner and related methods of operation that provide for improved safety and consistency during a food canning process by reducing temperature over and undershoot. The digital pressure canner includes a digital control operating with inputs from digital sensors to accurately control the canning temperature during the canning process. By reducing over and undershoot of canning temperatures, foods within the pressure canner are maintained at temperatures sufficient to kill any bacteria or microorganisms for the entire canning cycle. In order to verify operation of the digital canner at sufficient canning temperatures, mechanical safety devices, for example, a pressure relief valve can be utilized in conjunction with digital controllers and sensors to provide audible and visual feedback to a user during the canning process.

A system and methodology for rehydrating perishable items (e.g., flowers, fresh food items, such as fruits, vegetables, other produce, and nuts) during storage and transportation thereof. The osmotic rehydration apparatus includes a pressurized chamber, a humidifier, an ozone generator, an electrostatic sprayer, a reservoir containing saline, and an air compressor. The perishable items are placed in the osmotic chamber under positive pressure. A film of saline solution is applied to the surface of the perishable items via an electrostatic sprayer. The saline/chlorine film on the perishable items is dried, and the osmotic chamber is saturated with ozone gas via an ozone generator. The osmotic chamber is then saturated with tiny pure water droplets via a humidifier or an electrostatic sprayer. The pressure within the chamber is raised to a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The osmotic chamber is then placed inside a cooler at a temperature slightly above freezing.