Claims
- 1. A process for making dried grapes comprising the steps of:
- (a) removing bloom from fresh grapes,
- (b) drying the grapes from about 20% moisture to less than about 10% moisture in an environment containing less than about 2% oxygen and at a pressure of less than about 40 Torr,
- (c) raising the temperature of the grapes to between about 170.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. in said reduced pressure environment for a time sufficient to rigidify the sugar structure in the grapes,
- (d) cooling the grapes to below about 100.degree. F. while maintaining said reduced atmosphere, and
- (e) recovering hollow substantially round intact grapes having substantially the same size and color as the fresh grapes.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the recovered grapes are chewy.
- 3. The process of claim 1 where the recovered grapes are crisp and brittle.
- 4. The process of claim 1 wherein microwave energy is applied to the grapes in the reduced pressure environment to dry the grapes.
REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of our prior co-pending application Ser. No. 167,688 filed July 11, 1980, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
167688 |
Jul 1980 |
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