A moisture removal system having a crop drying enclosure for holding a crop product to be dried. A closed loop air circulation system is provided which includes a moisture removal enclosure for removing moisture from circulating air along with air ducting operatively connecting the moisture removal enclosure to the crop drying enclosure air inlet to form a closed loop moisture removal air system. A heat pump system, including a compressor, a first heat exchanger capable of operation as a condenser, along with two additional heat exchangers, each capable of operating as either a condenser or evaporator are positioned within the moisture removal enclosure, to remove excess moisture from the circulating air without the addition or extraction of heat from the ambient air temperature.

The invention provides a process for stabilizing a sugar beet product against frost damage. The invention further provides a sugar beet product that is stabilized against frost damage.

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.

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 process for preparing a food product comprises providing or receiving a plurality of food pieces of a food material having an initial moisture content, optionally enzyme treating the food pieces with an effective amount of at least one starch-degrading enzyme to provide enzyme-treated food pieces, optionally blanching the enzyme-treated food pieces to deactivate the starch-degrading enzyme to provide blanched food pieces, and reducing moisture of the food pieces, the enzyme-treated food pieces, or the blanched food pieces via air drying from the initial moisture content to reduced overall moisture content that is lower than the initial moisture content, to provide moisture-reduced food pieces.

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.

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.

Process for the production legume meal comprising the steps of: a) providing a wet heat treatment reactor comprising a cylindrical tubular body (1) with horizontal axis, having an opening (5, 6, 10) for the introduction of legume meal and water or an aqueous solution and having at least one discharge opening (7), a heating jacket (4) and a rotor (8) arranged inside the cylindrical tubular body; b) feeding a continuous flow of meal into the reactor, in which the rotor (8) is rotated at a speed greater than or equal to 150 rpm; c) feeding into the reactor, together with the flow of meal, a continuous flow of water or aqueous solution, which is dispersed into minute droplets; d) centrifuging the aforementioned flows against the inner wall of the reactor, thus forming a highly turbulent, dynamic, thin tubular fluid layer, while advancing in substantial contact with the inner wall of the reactor towards the discharge opening (7); e) discharging from the discharge opening (7) a continuous flow of a wet meal (moisture content 20-40%); f) providing a thermal dehydration and treatment reactor, comprising a cylindrical tubular body (101) with horizontal axis, having at least one inlet opening (105) and at least one discharge opening (107), a heating jacket (104) and a rotor (108) arranged inside the cylindrical tubular body (101) and comprising a shaft provided with elements (109) projecting radially therefrom; g) feeding the wet meal into the thermal dehydration and treatment reactor, the inner wall of the reactor being kept at a temperature of at least 100 C. and the rotor (108) being rotated at a speed of at least 150 rpm; h) centrifuging and causing the wet meal to advance inside the reactor by the action of the rotor (108); i) discharging from the discharge opening (107) of the reactor a continuous flow of legume meal having a moisture content of between 2% and 15%.

A moisture removal system having a crop drying enclosure for holding a crop product to be dried. A closed loop air circulation system is provided which includes a moisture removal enclosure for removing moisture from circulating air along with air ducting operatively connecting the moisture removal enclosure to the crop drying enclosure air inlet to form a closed loop moisture removal air system. A heat pump system, including a compressor, a first heat exchanger capable of operation as a condenser, along with two additional heat exchangers, each capable of operating as either a condenser or evaporator are positioned within the moisture removal enclosure, to remove excess moisture from the circulating air without the addition or extraction of heat from the ambient air temperature.