The present invention is related with the treatment of vegetable and animal foods for its preservation and employment in the extraction of the active ingredients they include. More specifically it refers to the treatment of these foods with the comprehensive application of solar radiation. This comprehensive use of solar radiation in the dehydration of vegetable and animal foods is characterized fir consisting in a dehydration process that includes the following steps a) slicing of the dehydrating product into slices of 1 to 2 mm thick; b) expose the skin free surfaces of the product to the direct impact of sun beams; c) maintaining an air circulation, even if laminar in the premise to homogenize the humidity content in all of the air mass; ch) take the product to a humidity level of 5 to 10% d) pack the dehydrated product.

A method and system for drying a product, such as breadfruit, includes a container (such as an intermodal freight container); a rack assembly for holding shelf assemblies that include a drying rack, a baffle, and an exhaust fan; and an air supply. The air supply system can include a hot air fan for supplying warm air from a solar heat source or other heat source. The heated air for breadfruit at the hot sides of the drying racks is 105-120 F.

A method and system for drying a product, such as breadfruit, includes a container (such as an intermodal freight container); a rack assembly for holding shelf assemblies that include a drying rack, a baffle, and an exhaust fan; and an air supply. The air supply system can include a hot air fan for supplying warm air from a solar heat source or other heat source. The heated air for breadfruit at the hot sides of the drying racks is 105-120 F.

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.

The present invention is an innovative method, process and mechanism utilizing infrared energy for the process to dry/dehydrate an oil reduced avocado paste or an oil retained avocado paste into dried/dehydrated avocado powders, flakes, or sheets, with no compromise in the nutritional value of the end food product. The present invention is economical, preserves the original color and nutritional content, provides a continuous drying/dehydrating process for the avocado paste, achieves a food product with a long shelf life and easily transportable.

The present invention is an innovative method, process and mechanism utilizing infrared energy for the process to dry/dehydrate an oil reduced avocado paste or an oil retained avocado paste into dried/dehydrated avocado powders, flakes, or sheets, with no compromise in the nutritional value of the end food product. The present invention is economical, preserves the original color and nutritional content, provides a continuous drying/dehydrating process for the avocado paste, achieves a food product with a long shelf life and easily transportable.

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%.

The present invention is an innovative method, process and mechanism utilizing infrared energy for the process to dry/dehydrate an oil reduced avocado paste or an oil retained avocado paste into dried/dehydrated avocado powders, flakes, or sheets, with no compromise in the nutritional value of the end food product. The present invention is economical, preserves the original color and nutritional content, provides a continuous drying/dehydrating process for the avocado paste, achieves a food product with a long shelf life and easily transportable.

The present invention is an innovative method, process and mechanism utilizing infrared energy for the process to dry/dehydrate an oil reduced avocado paste or an oil retained avocado paste into dried/dehydrated avocado powders, flakes, or sheets, with no compromise in the nutritional value of the end food product. The present invention is economical, preserves the original color and nutritional content, provides a continuous drying/dehydrating process for the avocado paste, achieves a food product with a long shelf life and easily transportable.

An apparatus and method for providing a simpler and more robust mechanism for transporting materials to be dried through a vacuum microwave chamber in rotating containers. The apparatus (20) has a vacuum chamber (22), an input end (26) to introduce a container (24) into the chamber, and a discharge end (28) to remove the container. The container has spur gear teeth (60) extending along its outer circumferential surface. The apparatus has a single roller (42) having spur gear teeth (46) extending along its outer circumferential surface. The spur gear teeth of the roller mesh with the spur gear teeth of the container such that rotation of the roller about its longitudinal axis rotates the container. The apparatus also includes means for holding the container on the roller, means for moving the container through the chamber, a microwave generator 76 arranged for transmission of microwave radiation from the generator into the chamber, and means for reducing pressure inside the chamber.