A line for heating, drying, disinfecting, pasteurizing and/or sterilizing a substance with an apparatus that includes at least one, preferably a multitude, solid-state radio frequency source(s) and a further heat treatment apparatus. A method for heating, drying, disinfecting, pasteurizing and/or sterilizing a substance with an apparatus that includes at least a solid-state RF energy source microwave heating step and a further heat treatment step.

A method for preparing a vitamin D.sub.2-rich mushroom powder, including: slicing a mushroom to obtain mushroom slices, irradiating the mushroom slices with an ultraviolet light, drying the mushroom slices in nitrogen to obtain dried mushroom slices, and pulverizing the dried mushroom slices to obtain the vitamin D.sub.2-rich mushroom powder. The ultraviolet light irradiation is performed at an ambient temperature of 20-55° C. and an ambient relative humidity of 50-85%, and a moisture content of the mushroom slices is not less than 20%.

A method of treating a meat-substance containing a bone structure. The bone marrow is coagulated with microwaves generated by a solid-state RF energy source. The microwave heating may be carried out prior to a heat treatment of the meat-substance and/or may be carried out after slaughtering and before the fresh slaughtered meat-substance is frozen.

A method of treating a meat-substance containing a bone structure. The bone marrow is coagulated with microwaves generated by a solid-state RF energy source. The microwave heating may be carried out prior to a heat treatment of the meat-substance and/or may be carried out after slaughtering and before the fresh slaughtered meat-substance is frozen.

A method for producing a purée from a food product, comprising the following steps: refining the food product up to obtaining a purée; de-activating the enzymes by heating the purée, in order to prevent oxidation of the purée. The step of de-activating the enzymes comprises the step of passing an electric current through the purée between electrodes of a first ohmic heater (31).

A method for producing a purée from a food product, comprising the following steps: refining the food product up to obtaining a purée; de-activating the enzymes by heating the purée, in order to prevent oxidation of the purée. The step of de-activating the enzymes comprises the step of passing an electric current through the purée between electrodes of a first ohmic heater (31).

A method of treating pieces of plant material to make them microbiologically stable for inclusion in chewing gums and other confections is disclosed. More specifically, the plant material is exposed to infrared radiation in specific dosage ranges to stabilize the ingredient and preserve flavor and appearance of the material. The present invention relates to chewing gums and confections having inclusions of pieces of plant material such as pieces of mint leaves or dried fruit, wherein the plant material is stabilized against microbial growth by treatment with infrared radiation.

A method of treating pieces of plant material to make them microbiologically stable for inclusion in chewing gums and other confections is disclosed. More specifically, the plant material is exposed to infrared radiation in specific dosage ranges to stabilize the ingredient and preserve flavor and appearance of the material. The present invention relates to chewing gums and confections having inclusions of pieces of plant material such as pieces of mint leaves or dried fruit, wherein the plant material is stabilized against microbial growth by treatment with infrared radiation.

A method for the thermal treatment of bulk materials in a rotary tube with at least one infrared light unit. Bulk material is introduced into the rotary tube, which is provided on its inner wall with at least one mixing element and in the interior space of which the pressure of the ambient atmosphere prevails. A heat treatment of the bulk material is performed by at least one electrical infrared light unit, which is arranged at the center of the rotary tube and the light cone of which is directed onto the bed of bulk material that lies on the inner wall of the rotary tube. The bulk material is discharged from the rotary tube. Water vapor is directed onto the surface of the bulk material. The vapor is introduced into the interior space of the rotary tube through a nozzle tube.

The present invention relates to a method for three-dimensional microwave air-jet drying of persimmon slices, comprising steps of grading and cleaning, slicing, microwave heating, steam de-astringency, hot-air reverse primary drying, negative-pressure intermittent secondary drying, cooling and packaging. In the present invention, high-temperature (60-70° C.) high-pressure annularly sprayed citric acid and 40% alcohol vapor (rotating at 360°) are adopted to remove astringency of persimmons, wherein high temperature causes more intense Brownian motion of liquid molecules; high pressure improves permeation and diffusion speed of de-astringency liquid in the persimmon slices; citric acid plays a membrane breaking role on persimmon cell membranes; and 40% alcohol vapor is allowed to rapidly diffuse into cells, so that tannin is polymerized into insoluble gel from a soluble state, thereby achieving a uniform and rapid de-astringency effect.