Patent Application
20160302435
The present invention relates to a process and to a device adapted to the process for introducing food additives, which can optionally be water soluble and which can especially comprise salt, seasoning and preservation agents, into solid food, especially into raw or cooked meat. The device according to the invention and the process which can be carried out using the device are characterized in that at least one solid is introduced into solid food, which optionally comprises or consists of at least one solid that is partially, preferably entirely water soluble food additives. The solid can consist of one or several food additives, especially of solid salt, preferably in admixture with further food additives, for examples spice, preservation agent. The device and the process have the advantage that thereby the food additives, especially salt, can be introduced into the food without introducing solution water.
EP 0537855 A2 describes the injection of brine into meat by a multitude of parallel needles which in coupling with the advance of a conveyor device are pressed into the meat. The injection of the brine into meat is disadvantageous in that along with the brine solution water is introduced, which can impair product quality and can only be removed by costly drying procedures.
WO 00/32051 A1 describes spraying of small solid particles respectively powder by means of high pressure nozzles onto poultry meat. Preferably, sprayed particles are brought onto the meat by electrostatic separation.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device and a process that can be performed with it for introducing food additives, especially salt, into solid food, by which the introduction of solution water is avoided.
The invention achieves the object by the features of the claims, especially by a device having a conveyor device which is adapted for acceleration of a solid, comprising or consisting of food additives, and having an outlet that can be directed onto the food, especially directed onto an area adjacent to a carrier, in which the food is arranged. The carrier can for example be a conveyor belt or a chute, onto which adjacent the food can be arranged, or another carrier, which engages with the food, like e.g. a hook especially when the food is meat, so that the food is arranged in the area adjacent below the hook.
The solid comprises or consists of preferably salt, e.g. pure table salt (NaCl, optionally having a content of MgCl2 and/or KCl) or a mixture of table salt with food additives, for example spices, flavour, preservation agents, e.g. nitrite, coloring agents, binding agents, e.g. glucose, glucose syrup, phosphates, sugar etc. According to the invention, the solid is for example a mixture of salt with other food additives and under ambient conditions is solid, especially free from solution water.
Generally, it is preferred that the conveyor device is supported moveable in relation to the carrier by a mounting in order to arrange the outlet at a small distance from the food. The mounting can e.g. have an optical control or a distance piece to be arranged against the food, which adjusts a predetermined distance of the outlet to a food.
In a first embodiment, the conveyor device is especially arranged to accelerate the solid up to at least a speed sufficient for penetration into the food, e.g. up to a penetration depth of 0.5 to 5 cm. Such a speed necessary for penetration is dependent on ballistic factors, e.g. on the grain size or the diameter and the mass of the solid piece, the distance of the outlet to the food, the resistance of the air etc. This speed can e.g. be predetermined by accelerating the solid of a certain grain size onto an optically transparent substitute material for the food and determining the penetration depth. For example, aqueous compositions solidified with gelatine or soap, e.g. having a Bloom number of 200-350, as they are available e.g. as ballistic gelatine or soap are suitable as such an optically transparent substitute material for food.
The conveyor device in a first embodiment can be a nozzle loadable with compressed gas having e.g. from 50-5000 bar, e.g. 150 to 500 bar, the inner volume of the nozzle being connected with the outlet of a proportioning apparatus for the solid. Preferably, the nozzle is loadable with compressed gas in a controlled manner, for example by the nozzle being connected with a source for compressed gas, for example a compressor or a compressed gas cylinder, by means of a pressure pipe, in which a controlled valve is arranged. Preferably, the valve is controlled in dependence on the position of the carrier, for example in dependence on the position of a motor drive of the carrier or in dependence on the signal of a position detector detecting the position of the food on the carrier, wherein the signal indicates the position of the food. Such a detector can be a camera. At the conveyor device, a proportioning apparatus is arranged which is connected to the inner volume of the conveyor device and which is especially adapted to conduct the solid to the inlet end of the conveyor device, the outlet end of which being oriented to an area adjacent the carrier. Further preferred, also the proportioning apparatus is controlled, for example in dependence on the position of the carrier or in dependence on the detected position of the food on the carrier, e.g. as described with reference to the controlled valve. The proportioning apparatus can be controlled in a manner coordinated with the valve that is arranged in the pressure pipe, for example in a way that the proportioning apparatus prior to and/or during the open position of the control valve conveys solid into the nozzle. The nozzle can be loadable with compressed gas in a continuous manner or periodically controlled pulsatingly e.g. by the valve in the pressure line being opened and closed periodically. The grain size of the solid is preferably preadjusted to a predetermined size in order to achieve defined penetration depths for the pressure of the pressured gas.
In a first embodiment the device is adjusted to position the outlet of the nozzle in a predetermined distance relative to the food in order for compressed gas to escape that exits from the nozzle. For the predetermined distance, the nozzle can have a distance piece projecting over its outlet, wherein the end of the distance piece spaced from the outlet can be arranged against a food. Such a distance piece can e.g. be a roller or a sliding element.
In the first embodiment the proportioning apparatus can be a feeding line provided with a controlled valve, the feeding line discharging into the nozzle, which optionally conveys the solid by way of gravity or which has a transporting element, for example a motor driven transport screw or a driven slidable piston within the feeding line. The pressured gas can be nitrogen, CO2 and/or air or also an ignitable mixture of gases, wherein the nozzle has an ignition apparatus for igniting the ignitable gas mixture for acceleration of the solid. For the purposes of the invention, every piston can be a driven slidable element which is guided along a line and a pipe section, respectively.
As described with reference to the second embodiment, the proportioning apparatus can be heatable to a temperature at which at least a part of the food additives becomes flowable or melts, respectively. In this variant, the food additives by at least partially fusing on or melting on at least after solidification on an adjacent cooling line or within the nozzle form a particular solid, which especially is a rod-shaped solid.
In a second embodiment the conveyor device comprises a press with a line connected thereto, the outlet of which being preferably directed to the area adjacent to the carrier, and in which the food is arranged, respectively, such that the outlet can be arranged close to or in contact with the food.
The press can e.g. be an extruder, a piston press or a gear pump. The press has an inlet for the food additives, especially salt or a salt mixture with other food additives, which are to be introduced into the meat and which is adjusted to load the food additives with a pressure under which these are formed to a rod-shaped solid. Therein, the solid is at least sectionwise in one piece, especially rod-shaped. Preferably, the press is air-conditioned, e.g. temperature controlled, e.g. sectionwise heated or cooled, e.g. by a double wall of the housing, in the case of an extruder optionally additionally of the rotor. The line, which is connected to the press, at least sectionwise forms the solid exiting from the press to rods, while the food additives are pushed through the line by means of the press. The conveyor device having a line and a press can be designed to achieve in the line a pressure sufficient for plastically deforming the food additives in the line, for example by the tapering towards its outlet at constant conveyor speed of the press, and thereby increasing the pressure in the food additives towards the outlet, e.g. to recrystallize and/or adhere food additives to one another. Correspondingly, the line can taper from its section adjacent the press to its outlet or can have a constant inner cross-section. The line adjacent to the press can be formed by a nozzle which tapers the open inner cross-section of the press to an outlet.
Optionally, especially in the embodiment as an extruder, the press and/or the line arranged adjacently can have at least one steam exit from the inner volume, for example steam exit borings for water to exit from the pressed food additives. In this embodiment solution water can be added to the food additives fed to the press, e.g. for producing a pumpable mixture, in which optionally food additives can be present as a solid, e.g. crystallin. The mixture of food additives with solution water can e.g. form a slurry, in which the water soluble food additives can partially be present non-dissolved or crystallin.
Optionally, the line is heatable in a section adjacent to the press, which section can e.g. be provided with a double wall for a thermostating medium. The cross-section and the outlet of the line preferably are round.
The outlet of the line can e.g. have an inner diameter of 0.2 or 0.5 mm to 25 mm or up to 15 mm, e.g. 2 to 10 mm, preferably 2 to 7 mm or up to 6 mm, e.g. up to 3 mm or up to 2 mm.
In the second embodiment the food additives are formed to a rod-shaped solid, especially to salt mass, having a strength sufficient to be introduced into the food by means of the press and the line connected thereto. Therein, only the pressure impinged upon the food additives by the press can accelerate the rod-shaped solid into the food, so that in the process the solid following exiting from the outlet of the line is introduced into the food. Therein, it is generally preferred that in the second embodiment during the introduction of the rod-shaped solid, the food is not moved in relation to the outlet. The carrier of the device can especially have forms which are open towards the outlet, and respectively the food can be arranged in forms which are open towards the outlet, the forms reducing a movement of the food during the introduction of the solid.
The press and/or the line connected thereto can be heatable up to a temperature at which at least a portion of the food additives becomes flowable or melts under the pressure generated by the press.
The press and/or the line connected thereto can be coolable up to a temperature at which the mixture of the food additives coheres by its residual moisture, especially water contained therein freezes, e.g. coheres for a short term as required for introduction into the food. During forming of the solid, especially of the rod-shaped solid, by cooling, especially by cooling the press and/or the line connected thereto, frozen water forms a binding agent of the food additives.
Optionally, the conveyor device can have a transportation device connected to the outlet of the line, the transportation device accelerating the rod-shaped solid following it exiting from the outlet of the line against the food. Such a transportation device can e.g. have a pipe section at the inlet end of which, directly or at a distance, a pressure gas source is connected and the outlet end of which is directed to the food. At its inlet end, the pipe section can be sealable, e.g. by means of a closure, e.g. a flap or a gate valve. Preferably, the closure is movably guided approximately in parallel to the cross-section of the pipe section, e.g. in a guidance arranged in parallel to the cross-section of the pipe section. The inlet end can e.g. be arranged adjacent to or in a distance from the outlet of the line, so that rod-shaped solid inserted into the inlet end and compressed gas can be applied to the pipe section, especially following closing of the inlet end. Application of compressed gas generally preferably occurs pulsatingly for accelerating the rod-shaped solid out of the pipe section.
Optionally, the transportation device can have a mechanical ejection device, which is e.g. driven electronically, pneumatically or chemically (by controlled explosion), which correspondingly accelerates the solid. The drive of the mechanical transportation device can e.g. in a pressure chamber store pressure which is admitted to the transportation device and is controlled by opening a closure locked in place of the pipe section at a suitable point in time. In the alternative, the transportation device can have a piston guided in a pipe section in order to accelerate or press, respectively, the solid into the food.
In the line connecting a pressure gas source with the pipe section, there is preferably arranged a controlled valve which preferably is controlled in dependence on the closing of the pipe section. The valve preferably is a fast switchable valve.
In a variant of the second embodiment, the device has a supply container for rod-shaped solid, which is pre-produced. The outlet of the supply container is arranged at a transportation device as described with reference to the second embodiment. In this variant, the supply container forms an intermediate storage for pre-produced rod-shaped solid, so that the transportation device can be separated by a space and/or with a time shift and can be operated for introduction of the rod-shaped solid into the food.
In an alternative to the press or as a feeding device connected to the press for food additives of the second embodiment, for at least a portion of the food additives the device can have a heating device that is heatable to a temperature at which at least a portion of the food additives becomes flowable and melts, respectively. Such a heating device can e.g. be arranged for through-passage of heat-resistant food additives, e.g. salt, and discharge into the press at a distance from a feeding socket of the press for temperature-sensitive food additives. The heating device can be arranged for only partially softening or melting heat-resistant food additives or for providing a melt of these food additives. The heating device can also be actuated in combination with a pressure increase in order to soften the food additives.
The process for producing food with the step of introducing the rod-shaped solid of food additives into food comprises to accelerate the solid by means of a conveyor device, the outlet of which is oriented towards the food.
In the first embodiment, the solid is accelerated at least to a speed sufficient for penetration into the food. The solid can e.g. be accelerated by means of the application of compressed gas in a nozzle, especially controlled by means of a controlled valve, which is arranged in the pressure line between the pressure gas source and the nozzle.
In the second embodiment, the food additives are formed to a rod-shaped solid, especially pressed to a rod-shaped solid, by means of the press, to which a line is connected. The rod-shaped solid can be shoven into the food directly following exiting the line, optionally driven by the pressure of the press or alternatively by means of a pipe section adjacently arranged to the line, the pipe section following entry of the rod-shaped solid of food additives being applied with compressed gas or is accelerated by means of a piston guided in the pipe section. Such a pipe section to which compressed gas can be applied in a controlled manner can preferably be closed at its inlet end facing the outlet of the line, especially closable in coordination with the application of compressed gas. In an alternative, the rod-shaped solid of food additives can be shoven into the food by a driven piston. The piston can be guided in a pipe section arranged at the outlet of the line, the pipe section being oriented towards the food.
In a variation of the second embodiment, the food additives the solid consists of, can be carried into the press with an addition of solution water and/or of a solvent, wherein the press and/or the line connected thereto has at least one steam outlet for the solution water and solvent, respectively to exit from the food additives and out of the rod-shaped solid subjected to pressure, respectively.
In this embodiment, the rod-shaped solid also has no solution water and has a mechanical strength sufficient to penetrate into the food.
The process provides for the introduction of solids of food additives, especially of salt, including salt mixtures, into the volume of a food without introducing solution water. Accordingly, foods produced by the process are characterized in that the structure is not changed by the introduction of solution water, optionally with subsequent discharge of solution water, as well as by a more uniform distribution of food additives from the solid within the volume of the food than would be possible by a purely superficial deposition of food additives, especially of salt.
Alternatively, the solid can be formed of the food additives by these being formed and frozen, optionally with addition of water. The freezing of the food additives can e.g. occur in a line adjacent to the press by cooling the line or by cooling the food additives in a static form.
For the first embodiment, the cooling for producing the solid by freezing can occur in a mixer or in a coating drum, every time with cooling. The process for introducing food additives provides for the food additives being a solid is accelerated, wherein the solid especially is solid salt, which can also be a solid mixture of salt with food additives, wherein the solid, respectively food additives, are especially free from solution water, especially free from liquid solution water. Generally preferred, the solid has a length bigger than its diameter. Preferably, the solid has a cylindric or rectangular, e.g. square cross-section, which extends constantly along an axis perpendicular thereto, which e.g. forms a longitudinal axis. In the alternative, the rod-shaped solid along an axis perpendicular to its cross-section can have a cross-section which sectionwise tapers and/or increases, e.g. with a second oval cross-section, perpendicular to the first one, so that the rod-shaped solid has e.g. the form of a drawn-out pellet.
The process results in the food additives being introduced as a solid directly into the food. The food is arranged on a carrier, so that it is arranged in an area adjacent to the carrier. The solid is preferably accelerated by means of a device, the outlet of which is oriented towards an area adjacent to the carrier, in which area the food is arranged.
In a first embodiment, the food additives, which preferably are present as a rod-shaped solid, are continuously or batchwise metered into a nozzle and accelerated by means of a compressed gas out of the nozzle's outlet, which is directed against the food. Generally, the rod-shaped solid can have a diameter of 0.2 or 0.5 mm up to 25 mm or up to 15 mm, e.g. to up to 10 mm, preferably 2 up to 7 mm or up to 6 mm, e.g. up to 3 mm or up to 2 mm, especially with a round cross-section, preferably at a length which is bigger than the diameter, e.g. by a factor 1.5 up to 20, e.g. by a factor 5 up to 10 longer than the diameter. Compressed gas can be applied to the nozzle continuously or controlled pulsatingly. Preferably, the food additives are batchwise metered into the nozzle, while compressed gas is applied controlled pulsatingly, especially controlled each time prior to, concurrent to or following the metering of the food additives into the nozzle.
The compressed gas can e.g. be air, nitrogen, helium, argon or mixtures of these under pressure or an ignitable gas mixture. The pressure can e.g. be 3 up to 700, e.g. up to 150 or up to 200 bar. Is preferred that the solid, when it is accelerated by compressed gas out of a pipe section, is accelerated to a speed of 200 up to 800 km/h, e.g. up to 250 up to 550 km/h or up to 350 km/h.
In embodiments, in which the food additives are present as a rod-shaped solid, the solid can be brought into the pipe section from a supply container and be accelerated by means of the pipe section by application of compressed gas. Therein, the pipe section at its inlet end can have a closure, which following introduction of rod-shaped solid is closed and subsequently gas is applied to a section of the pipe section between the closure and the rod-shaped solid. The pressure line, by which compressed gas is conducted to the pipe section, can discharge at the closure or into the pipe section. In this embodiment it is preferred that the food additives are formed into a rod-shaped solid by means of a press that is connected to a line. This can occur by pressing of solid food additives without addition of solution water or solvent or with addition of a small amount of solution water or solvent, respectively, wherein the press and/or the line connected thereto has a steam exit, from which the solution water and solvent, respectively exits as steam. Preferably, the press and/or the line is heated or frozen, especially deep frozen. Alternatively, for this embodiment, the food additives can be pressed into pellets and/or be frozen or be connected to agglomerates of food additives, e.g. by means of a coating drum.
The pipe section generally preferably for guiding the solid has an inner cross-section adapted to the cross-section of the solid. An inner cross-section adapted to the cross-section of the solid can receive the cross-section of the solid with a distance surrounding the solid of e.g. 0.1 up to 2 mm, preferably of up to 1.5 or up to 1 mm, e.g. with a fit that allows an acceleration of the solid through the pipe section. Optionally, the pipe section has at least one groove that runs longitudinal to the longitudinal axis of the pipe section in its inner wall as a spiral groove.
In the second embodiment, salt is formed by a press having an attached line into rod-shaped salt mass and is accelerated against the food directly or by means of a connected pipe section to which compressed gas is applied or in which a piston is guided.
In embodiments, in which the rod-shaped solid is accelerated in a pipe section against the food, it is preferred to arrange a lubricant between the rod-shaped solid and the pipe section. The lubricant can be arranged between the rod-shaped solid and the pipe section by coating the rod-shaped solid at least sectionwise, preferably completely circumferentially with the lubricant or by the pipe section having a feeding unit for the lubricant that introduces the lubricant into the pipe section and/or applies the lubricant to the rod-shaped solid. The lubricant can e.g. be water or a solid or liquid fat or oil, respectively, which in solidified form lies on the rod-shaped solid as a coating, or is introduced in liquid form into the pipe section.
A specific advantage of the process according to the invention is obtained when the food is freshly slaughtered meat, because rigor mortis (pig after ca. 45 min, cattle ca. 60-90 min) is reduced or even abolished by the fast introduction of salt into the volume of the freshly slaughtered meat. The product qualities are thereby significantly improved. Freshly slaughtered meat is preferably meat immediately following slaughtering, e.g. within at maximum 40, preferably at maximum 30, more preferably at maximum 20 or at maximum 10 minutes after the slaughtering for pork, and within at maximum 60, preferably at maximum 50, more preferably at maximum 40 or at maximum 30 min, even more preferred within at maximum 20 or 10 min after slaughtering for beef. In a further preferred process, the food is raw or cooked ham from pig or cattle. Therein, the solid can consist e.g. of at least 90 wt-% salt.
Correspondingly, the process relates to a process for the production of food, and especially meat, preferably freshly slaughtered meat, into which food additives in the form of a solid are introduced, especially food, which in the inside have food additives by introduction of the food additives in the form of a solid, especially in rod-shape. The food produced by the process provided with food additives in form of a solid in the inside, especially meat, is characterized in the embodiment, in which the solid is without solution water in that it does not contain any additional water, and no water introduced with the additives, respectively, and by puncture canals, through which the solid was introduced.
The invention is now described by way of examples and with reference to the figures, which schematically show in
In the figures, functionally equal elements are provided with like reference numerals.
The carrier 4 is moveable by means of the drive 27, as e.g. indicated by the two double-headed arrows along two directions of movement perpendicular to one another. Optionally, the drive 27 of the carrier 4 and/or the drive 26 of the metering unit 2 and/or the valve 9 for the compressed gas is controlled in dependence on a control unit 25.
Table salt representing a food additive was pressed into rod-shape having a round cross-section, ca. 2.8 mm diameter, ca. 5 to 20 mm long, by means of a press and introduced into the end of a pipe section (round inside, 6 mm inner diameter, 120 cm long). The end of the pipe section was closed and pressured gas was applied by means of a nitrogen cylinder (pressure 200 bar) which was fed through a line having a simple switching valve into the same end. The opposite opening of the pipe was directed onto ballistic gelatine having a Bloom number of 300 at a distance of 20 cm. The rod-shaped salt penetrated the gelatine, depending on the length, by ca. 5 to 15 cm.
Table salt superficially wetted with water in admixture with 1 wt-% seasoning, optionally glucose, as the food additive was pressed by means of an extruder into rod-shape from a line connected to the extruder as schematically shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2013 221 237.2 | Oct 2013 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2014/072469 | 10/20/2014 | WO | 00 |
