A separate quick-freezing equipment is disclosed, including an evaporator, a condenser, a blower device and a quick-freezing device. The evaporator has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, the condenser is provided with a condensation cavity, a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, the condensation cavity is internally provided with a molecular sieve assembly deposed between the gas inlet and the gas outlet; the refrigerant outlet is connected to the gas inlet by means of a gas returning pipe, the liquid outlet is connected to the refrigerant inlet by means of a liquid inlet pipe, the liquid inlet pipe is provided with a throttling assembly, the gas outlet is connected to the refrigerant inlet by means of a gas inlet pipe, and the blower device is communicated with the gas returning pipe; the quick-freezing device includes a liquid storage tank and a quick-freezing box.

An apparatus for cooling a food item may include a base and a top, the top and the base defining an interior chamber configured to receive the food item, and a fan coupled to the top and configurable in an operating mode and an off mode, wherein the fan moves air within the interior chamber when in the operating mode. The apparatus may include a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the food item within the interior chamber and provide a temperature signal representative of that temperature, at least one user input allowing a user to select a cooling parameter, and a control unit adapted to receive the temperature signal and the cooling parameter, wherein the control unit is configured to switch the fan from the operating mode to the off mode when the cooling parameter has been met.

A method and apparatus is disclosed relating to food processing and preparation in commercial kitchens. The disclosed extreme vacuum cooling (EVC) technology and apparatus can work in ultra low pressure conditions with adaptive pressure control to avoid potential liquid splash inside the vacuum chamber caused by un-controlled low pressure conditions. Clean air or inert gas is added into the vacuum chamber so that the chamber pressure can track a setpoint trajectory that may have ramp up periods in order to avoid liquid splash events. The inventive apparatus allows the user to automatically cool various kinds of foods based on a recipe with minimal human interaction and meet food safety regulations. Different cooling recipes can be created based on the type and volume of the foods and a related vacuum pressure setpoint trajectory. High-volume food service kitchens can achieve less labor intensive, more time efficient, and higher throughput food preparation operations.

Described herein are systems and methods for ripening produce in a container during transit. The method includes maintaining, by a controller, an initial refrigerated climate in the container, detecting a first climate modification event, controlling automated vents in the container to an open state that exposes an interior of the container to an external environment until a temperature within the container increases to a predetermined temperature value, controlling, when the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature value, a ripening agent generator to inject a ripening agent into the container, continuously monitoring and controlling the ripening agent generator to maintain a target concentration of the ripening agent, detecting a second climate modification event, controlling the ripening agent generator to stop injecting the ripening agent, controlling a refrigeration unit to lower the container temperature to the initial refrigerated climate, and maintaining the initial refrigerated climate until arrival at a destination location.

An engineered food product includes a mold tray, a molded egg product disposed in the mold tray. The molded egg product includes a white layer conforming to an interior surface of the mold tray, the white layer comprising an annealed hydrocolloidal mixture of one or more nut milks, a vegan thickener, and a first fired salt and a yolk ball supported by the white layer, the yolk ball comprising a matte volume of a second mixture, the second mixture comprising a nut blend, a vegan colorant and a second fired salt.

A method and apparatus is disclosed relating to food preparation in commercial kitchens. The disclosed extreme vacuum cooling (EVC) technology and apparatus can work in ultra low pressure conditions with adaptive pressure control to avoid potential liquid splash inside the vacuum chamber caused by un-controlled low pressure conditions. Clean air or inert gas is added into the vacuum chamber so that the chamber pressure can track a setpoint trajectory that may have ramp up periods in order to avoid liquid splash events. The apparatus allows the user to automatically cool various kinds of foods based on a recipe with minimal human interaction and meet food safety regulations.

A method includes inserting a food item into an inner volume of a thermal container. A liquid circulating through a liquid jacket at least partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume of the thermal container is cooled such that thermal energy from the food item is transferred to the cooled liquid. After the cooling, thermal energy from a first heating element is transferred to the liquid circulating through the liquid jacket such that thermal energy from the heated liquid is transferred to the food item. Thermal energy from a second heating element is transferred to the food item in response to a criterion being satisfied. The second heating element is different from the first heating element and is disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container.

A food processing vat is provided with a zoned heat transfer system that provides zoned temperature control to the vat. The zoned heat transfer system selectively transmits heat to or removes heat from different portions of a bottom wall and/or side walks) of the vat. A heat transfer fluid may be directed through the zoned heat transfer system along a flow path that is selected based on a target size and/or a target temperature of a batch of food product being processed in the vat.

A food thawing apparatus includes a cabinet structure defining a thawing chamber, and at least one air mover and associated air flow structure for causing an air flow through the thawing chamber. At least one air heating element is positioned for heating the air flow. At least one shelf is positioned within the thawing chamber for supporting a food product in the thawing chamber, the shelf including at least one integrated shelf heating element. A control system is configured for controlling the air mover, the air heating element and the shelf heating element so as to thaw the food product.

A system and methodology for rehydrating perishable items (e.g., flowers, fresh food items, such as fruits, vegetables, other produce, and nuts) during storage and transportation thereof. The osmotic rehydration apparatus includes a pressurized chamber, a humidifier, an ozone generator, an electrostatic sprayer, a reservoir containing saline, and an air compressor. The perishable items are placed in the osmotic chamber under positive pressure. A film of saline solution is applied to the surface of the perishable items via an electrostatic sprayer. The saline/chlorine film on the perishable items is dried, and the osmotic chamber is saturated with ozone gas via an ozone generator. The osmotic chamber is then saturated with tiny pure water droplets via a humidifier or an electrostatic sprayer. The pressure within the chamber is raised to a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The osmotic chamber is then placed inside a cooler at a temperature slightly above freezing.