A method for pasteurizing/sanitizing/sterilizing a food product to reduce the microbial load thereof, including the steps of: (1) providing a food product, wherein the food product comprises a plant seed and/or an aqueous plant seed medium; (2) optionally fermenting the food product; (3) controllably exposing the food product to ultra-high-temperature processing for a period of time; and (4) at least one of pasteurizing, sanitizing, and sterilizing the food product without materially altering the flavor profile and/or the nutritional profile of the food product.

Fruit and warm water are added to a vessel in a smoker, together with brown sugar and/or white sugar. The mixture of fruit, water, and sugar is smoked in the smoker until the fruit softens to the touch; the smoking step generally is performed such that the water is maintained at a temperature from 50? C. to 80? C. (approx. 122? F. to 176? F.) and generally lasts about two hours. The fruit is then simmered in a syrup formed from the water and sugar, with the syrup covering the fruit during the simmering step; generally, the fruit and syrup are simmered until the syrup begins to boil, typically at approximately 104? C. (219? F.). After simmering, the fruit and syrup are optionally separated. The process produces both treated fruit and syrup possessing a smoky flavor.

A method of dehydrating seeded wine grapes that are intact, attached to a steam, and that have a fruit matrix containing seeds is described that includes providing air movement using a dehydration device over the seeded wine grapes at a temperature between 135 and 200 degrees F. to extract water through pores of the seeded wine grape, and cooling the seeded wine grapes to room temperature, thereby concentrating nutrients within the fruit matrix and rendering the seeds of the seeded wine grapes edible.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, processes for improving shelf-life and flavoring of fresh-cut/fresh vegetables, as well as food products produced by these processes. In accordance with the present disclosure, the processes generally include various new combinations of steps such as blanching, air drying, supercritical fluid processing with and without a processing aid, pressurization, de-pressurization, and packaging. The present disclosure further relates to methods of preparing edible food products that incorporate the processed fresh-cut vegetables, as well as the food products produced by these methods.

Method to reduce contamination of dehydrated products, which includes: reception of the contaminated and partially or totally dehydrated product; analyze the contaminated and dehydrated product to determine the type and degree of contamination it has; through conventional analysis techniques that detect the presence of contaminating agents; place the contaminated and dehydrated product inside containers made of a material resistant to high temperatures and pressure, and configured in such a way as to allow the circulation of gaseous fluids so that said gaseous fluids make uniform contact with the product to be decontaminated; subject the contaminated and dehydrated product to at least one decontamination treatment, according to the results of the contamination analysis; and package the dehydrated and decontaminated product.

Heat exchange devices, including aseptic cooler devices, and systems including same are provided. Methods of using heat exchange device are also provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides heat exchangers having an open chamber configuration and including a first section containing a cooling or heating media and a second section containing a food product. The first section includes a level detecting device that is configured to maintain a level of cooling or heating media in the first section, while preventing the cooling or heating media from pressurizing the first section. The open chamber configuration provides an air break at a top portion of the first section that ensures that the cooling or heating media entering the first section is at, or close to, atmospheric pressure.

A method for producing an avocado food product with a reduced instance of pathogens, the method comprising: (a) removing the pip and peel from an avocado leaving the flesh of the avocado; (b) macerating the avocado flesh; (c) exposing the avocado flesh to an atmosphere comprising steam for a predetermined time; wherein the steam is generated at or greater than about atmospheric pressure.

Method for the production of apple sauce including the following steps: slicing apples generating a plurality of slices having two opposite faces and a peel which develops continuously between the two opposite faces; pulping the slices obtaining a first product and a first waste; refining the first waste generating a second product and a second waste; mixing the first product and the second product; heating the combination of the first product and the second product in order to deactivate enzymes contained therein.

A plant dryer with improved convection flow is provided. The plant dryer has minimal corners in the drying vessel to promote efficient distribution of heated air through the device and to eliminate dead spots within the unit. The plant dryer has additional safety features where, unlike a conventional oven configuration, the unit may not be operated without the drying bowl properly placed within the unit.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, processes for improving shelf-life and flavoring of fresh-cut/fresh vegetables, as well as food products produced by these processes. In accordance with the present disclosure, the processes generally include various new combinations of steps such as blanching, air drying, supercritical fluid processing with and without a processing aid, pressurization, de-pressurization, and packaging. The present disclosure further relates to methods of preparing edible food products that incorporate the processed fresh-cut vegetables, as well as the food products produced by these methods.