A colostrum heating tub and a container for storing said colostrum therein, the colostrum heating tub adapted for holding a stationary pool of heating liquid and surrounding the container such that it is at least partly immersed in the heating liquid when positioned in the colostrum heating tub. The colostrum heating tub further contains a rack module for holding the container within the stationary pool of heating liquid, the rack module adapted for rotating around an axis such that at least the container can be rotated 360 degrees around the axis so the container is, at all times during 360 degree rotation around the axis, maintained in a fixed position with respect to the rack module and at least partly immersed in the stationary pool of heating liquid for even distribution of heat throughout the container to uniformly heat the colostrum.

The present invention is a system and method for performing freeze drying of small quantities of a liquid for personal use, wherein a liquid material is disposed within a single-use container, the container is then coupled to a small-scale freeze-drying unit which extracts liquid from the material in the container using a freeze-drying process, and the freeze-dried material is then left in the container and the container is stored until rehydration. The container may be a specialized single-use container that may be used to rehydrate the liquid and then fitted with a delivery device to feed an infant or child.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to lyophilizing a solid phase composition (SPC). In an illustrative example, the SPC is received in a frozen state in a first packaging. The SPC may be, for example, transferred into a second packaging having a thermally conductive layer, mechanically distributed to a predetermined maximum thickness to form a block having at least one homogenous dimension, and provided with a heat source configured to communicate substantially all thermal energy to the SPC via the thermally conductive second layer. In some embodiments, the SPC may be maintained in the frozen state. For example, the lyophilized SPC may be transferred to a third packaging. Various embodiments may limit physical contacts with the SPC to the first packaging, the second packaging, and the third packaging. Various embodiments may advantageously maintain sanitation, retain nutrients of the SPC, and/or promote consistent results from the lyophilization process.

An apparatus for preserving consumable products comprising an inner housing arranged within an outer insulated housing, wherein walls of the inner housing define a compartment for receiving consumable products, said walls comprising an inlet wall for inflow of a heat exchange fluid into the compartment, an opposed outlet wall for outflow of a heat exchange fluid out of the compartment, side walls and a base, the side walls and base adjoining the inlet wall to the outlet wall, wherein the inlet wall and outlet wall each include a series of apertures to accommodate a continuous heat exchange fluid flow through the apparatus such that, in operation, consumable products received in the compartment of the inner housing are immersed in the heat exchange fluid to exchange heat with the heat exchange fluid.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to lyophilizing a solid phase composition (SPC). In an illustrative example, the SPC is received in a frozen state in a first packaging. The SPC may be, for example, transferred into a second packaging having a thermally conductive layer, mechanically distributed to a predetermined maximum thickness to form a block having at least one homogenous dimension, and provided with a heat source configured to communicate substantially all thermal energy to the SPC via the thermally conductive second layer. In some embodiments, the SPC may be maintained in the frozen state. For example, the lyophilized SPC may be transferred to a third packaging. Various embodiments may limit physical contacts with the SPC to the first packaging, the second packaging, and the third packaging. Various embodiments may advantageously maintain sanitation, retain nutrients of the SPC, and/or promote consistent results from the lyophilization process.