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.

Structures and methods of using a microwave pasteurization device, as well as related non-linear waveguides. In some embodiments, an in-shell egg pasteurization device with a non-linear slotted waveguide. In some embodiments the non-linear slotted waveguide comprises shaped waveguide applicators. The shaped waveguide applicators may employ oval, lens, or plum shaped non-linear slots to improve efficiency and efficacy of pasteurizing in-shell eggs, live oysters, tomatoes, or blueberries while maintianly the quality and functional attributes of the raw product.

A sweet potato processed food can be preserved at room temperature for a long period of time while maintaining the taste, palatability, or the like acquired right after preparation procedures, given that the processed food is prepared by a process including: (1) washing and drying a sweet potato; (2) packaging each sweet potato of the step (1) in a laminated foil packaging sheet; and (3) pasteurizing the packaged sweet potato of the step (2) at 121 to 150 C. for 25 to 35 minutes. It is therefore expected to increase the income of sweet potato farmers and ensure high industrial availability by using the method for processing sweet potatoes into baked or steamed sweet potatoes that are readily consumable without trouble to conduct a separate cooking procedure, distributable at room temperature, and preservable for a long period of time.

A sweet potato processed food can be preserved at room temperature for a long period of time while maintaining the taste, palatability, or the like acquired right after preparation procedures, given that the processed food is prepared by a process including: (1) washing and drying a sweet potato; (2) packaging each sweet potato of the step (1) in a laminated foil packaging sheet; and (3) pasteurizing the packaged sweet potato of the step (2) at 121 to 150 C. for 25 to 35 minutes. It is therefore expected to increase the income of sweet potato farmers and ensure high industrial availability by using the method for processing sweet potatoes into baked or steamed sweet potatoes that are readily consumable without trouble to conduct a separate cooking procedure, distributable at room temperature, and preservable for a long period of time.

The present invention is direct to an co-fruit pulp based edible composition in winch an agricultural fruit byproduct base material, in conjunction with a hydrocolloid, is treated with pressure and/or heat to form an edible composition that is dimen-mortally stable, ambient stable for at least 9 months, has a moisture content greater than 50 wt. %, has a pH less than 4.5, has a water activity greater than 0.5, is commercially sterile, is free of artificial flavors and/or artificial colors, has a solids content greater than 10 wt. %, and does not exhibit syneresis or exhibits syneresis. Alternatively, the base material contains an edible fruit and/or vegetable and/or nut byproduct alone or in combination with the co-fruit pulp. Also provided is a method for preparation of the edible composition.

The present invention is direct to an co-fruit pulp based edible composition in winch an agricultural fruit byproduct base material, in conjunction with a hydrocolloid, is treated with pressure and/or heat to form an edible composition that is dimen-mortally stable, ambient stable for at least 9 months, has a moisture content greater than 50 wt. %, has a pH less than 4.5, has a water activity greater than 0.5, is commercially sterile, is free of artificial flavors and/or artificial colors, has a solids content greater than 10 wt. %, and does not exhibit syneresis or exhibits syneresis. Alternatively, the base material contains an edible fruit and/or vegetable and/or nut byproduct alone or in combination with the co-fruit pulp. Also provided is a method for preparation of the edible composition.

A method of making a porous, dehydrated food product comprises subjecting a food product to pulsed electric field treatment to form pores in the cell membranes of the food product, freezing the treated food product, and exposing the treated frozen food product to microwave radiation in a vacuum chamber at a pressure that is less than atmospheric and at which the boiling point of water is above 0 C., causing the frozen food product to thaw and water to evaporate to produce the porous, dehydrated product. The process is faster than freeze-drying and consumes less energy. The pulsed electric field treatment does not result in structural damage to the product, despite the thawing of the frozen product during the drying process.

A method of making a porous, dehydrated food product comprises subjecting a food product to pulsed electric field treatment to form pores in the cell membranes of the food product, freezing the treated food product, and exposing the treated frozen food product to microwave radiation in a vacuum chamber at a pressure that is less than atmospheric and at which the boiling point of water is above 0 C., causing the frozen food product to thaw and water to evaporate to produce the porous, dehydrated product. The process is faster than freeze-drying and consumes less energy. The pulsed electric field treatment does not result in structural damage to the product, despite the thawing of the frozen product during the drying process.

Methods of heating compositions comprising at least 20% (w/w) individually distinguishable edible inclusions are provided herein. The method of heating as disclosed herein comprises applying a first ohmic heating treatment to the composition, wherein the composition has at the end of the first ohmic heating treatment a temperature from 60 C. to 95 C.; applying a first holding step to the composition, wherein the temperature of the composition is at most 5 C. lower than the temperature of the composition after the first ohmic heating treatment; applying a second ohmic heating treatment to the composition, wherein the composition has at the end of the second ohmic heating treatment a temperature ranging from 75 C. to 110 C.; and applying a second holding step to the composition, wherein the temperature of the composition is at most 5 C. lower than the temperature of the composition after the second ohmic heating treatment, wherein the steps are performed as a continuous process with an initial back pressure of at least 4 bar.

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.