Patent Application
20100068365
The invention relates to a process for reducing the microbial count in a chocolate mass.
From DE-A1 2 513 563, a process for removing harmful flavours, fetid substances and the like from cacao or cacao butter masses is known, according to which additional water is added to the cacao mass and the mass is treated in a thin layer, whereupon excess water as well as the harmful flavours or fetid substances are degassed.
DE-A1 31 111 352 describes a process for the mechanical/thermal treatment of fluid masses, in particular cacao masses, according to which the mass is treated in a retaining reactor under pressure, while water supply to the cacao mass may also occur.
From EP 0 974 275 B1, a process for sterilizing food solid at room temperature comprising the following processing steps is known:
According to EP 0 974 275, the introduction of water vapour into the liquid food from outside is performed using a nozzle attached underneath a rotating dissolver disk.
However, this requires additional expenditures with regard to the equipment.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a process by means of which the microbial count in a chocolate mass can be lowered without additional expenditures with regard to the equipment.
One aspect of the invention is achieved by a process for reducing the microbial count in a chocolate mass. A chocolate mass and water are placed in a sterilizable container. The chocolate mass and the water are heated and stirred to a target temperature of more than 100° C. An overpressure in the container is built at least during part of the heating period. The container is degassed and cooled. Upon reaching the target temperature, but prior to step d), the pressure is partially lowered abruptly so that an overpressure remains in the container and subsequently the pressure is raised back to the original overpressure.
In another aspect of the invention steps e) and f) are carried out successively several times.
In another aspect of the invention steps e) and f) are repeated four to five times.
In another aspect of the invention in step a), the chocolate mass in provided in liquid form.
In another aspect of the invention, in step b), upon reaching a temperate of 80° C., water vapour is supplied to the headspace of the container in a manner known per se.
In another aspect of the invention the target temperature ranges from 105 to 130° C.
In another aspect of the invention, in step c), an overpressure from 1.5 bar to 2.0 bar is built up in comparison to the ambient pressure.
In another aspect of the invention, in step e), the pressured is lowered by 0.5 bar.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description thereof are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
The process according to the invention for reducing the microbial count in a chocolate mass is preferably carried out as follows:
A chocolate mass (temperature approx. 50° C.) supplied already in liquid form is placed in a cylindrical container comprising a stirrer as commonly used for the treatment of chocolate masses. Approx. 4% of water (based on the chocolate mass) is added at a temperature of likewise approx. 40-50° C.
The container is closed and the mixture is heated to a target temperature of approx. 105° C. to 110° C. under continuous stirring.
The headspace of the container is steamed in a known fashion upon reaching a temperature of 80° C. or more. The steam inlet is located approx. 80 cm above the chocolate/water mixture and is flush with the container dome. No water vapour is thereby introduced into the chocolate mass.
While the mixture is heated, an overpressure of approx. 1.5 to 2.0 bar is built up in the container.
Upon reaching the target temperature, the pressure in the container is abruptly relieved by approx. 0.5 bar and subsequently raised back to the original overpressure. Preferably, the duration of both pressure relief and renewed pressurization is a matter of seconds.
The pressure relief leads to a spontaneous formation of water vapour and a uniform penetration of the latter in the chocolate mass. Depending on the type of chocolate mass, this operation is carried out once or is repeated up to four or five times.
Subsequently, the mixture is cooled down to approx. 55° C., and residual water is withdrawn by applying a vacuum.
Partially—in particular repeatedly—lowering the pressure in the container and raising it back to the original overpressure results in an additional reduction in the microbial count in a chocolate mass without necessitating additional equipment facilities in that regard.
It will be readily seen by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention fulfils all of the objects set forth above. After reading the foregoing specification, one of ordinary skill in the art will be able to affect various changes, substitutions of equivalents and various aspects of the invention as broadly disclosed herein. It is therefore intended that the protection granted hereon be limited only by definition contained in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 2059/2006 | Dec 2006 | AT | national |
The present Application is based on International Application No. PCT/AT07/000558, filed on Dec. 10, 2007, which in turn corresponds to Austria Application No. A2059/2006, filed on Dec. 13, 2006, and priority is hereby claimed under 35 USC §119 based on these applications. Each of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AT2007/000558 | 12/10/2007 | WO | 00 | 7/22/2009 |
