What is the Use of Autoclave in Food?

The birth of high-temperature and high-pressure sterilization technology is the cornerstone of the innovative development of the food processing and preservation industry. It is related to the shelf life, food safety and quality of food. The high-temperature and high-pressure heat treatment of food by the food autoclave can effectively kill harmful microorganisms and spores in food. Sterilization technology is an indispensable part of the food sterilization industry. This article will take you to understand what food-grade industrial high-temperature and high-pressure autoclaves are, their working principles, applications and advantages, and their impact on the food industClick to Get Quote for Mini Retort/Multifunctional Retortry.

Understanding the Food Autoclave

A food autoclave is a machine that uses saturated steam to sterilize food and packaging materials under high temperature and pressure to eliminate microorganisms and bacteria in food, extend the shelf life of products, and ensure food safety. For most foods, the standard sterilization temperature is 121°C, and the pressure in the autoclave is generally set between 0.12MPa and 3.5MPa, which effectively kills bacteria and viruses while maintaining the nutritional content, texture, and flavor of the product.

Working Principle of a Food Autoclave

The working principle of the industrial autoclave for food is mainly to use high temperature and high pressure conditions. By injecting a certain amount of saturation, it is an important factor to extend the shelf life of the food product, improve product quality and ensure food safety.

The following is the operating process of the food autoclave:

Loading: Load the sealed product into the industrial autoclave. Depending on the product packaging form, you can choose to use sterilization trays or sterilization baskets.

Sealing: After the food is loaded into the sterilizer, the door of the sterilizer is firmly sealed to form a good pressurized environment, while ensuring multiple safety protections to ensure that the sterilization work is carried out effectively and safely.

Heating: Steam is injected into the industrial autoclave to gradually increase the temperature inside the autoclave. The rate of temperature rise and the final temperature setting are determined according to product characteristics, packaging materials and sterilization requirements, and are generally between 100°C and 121°C.

Sterilization:After reaching the set temperature, maintaining that temperature for a period of time can effectively kill harmful microorganisms and viruses in food and ensure food safety. The holding time depends on the type, specification and packaging material of food to ensure that commercial sterility standards are met.

Cooling: After the sterilization phase is completed, cooling begins. Cooling can be carried out in two steps. The first step is to gradually lower the temperature to prevent the product from being damaged by a sudden drop in pressure. The second step is full cooling, which continues to lower the temperature until the product can be safely removed.

After the cooling stage, gradually release the pressure. When the pressure drops to a safe range, open the sterilizer door and take out the sterilized product. Click to Ask for Quote Now!

Applications of Food Autoclaves

Food autoclave is widely used in the food industry, suitable for various packaging forms such as tinplate cans, bottles, soft bag packaging, tray packaging, etc., commonly seen in the following:

Canned food: Canned food is one of the most common types of food that is sterilized in an autoclave. For example, canned meat, canned fish, canned corn, etc. can all be sterilized using an autoclave to ensure that they can be stored safely for a long time.

Dairy products: The design of the dairy autoclave will be adjusted according to the characteristics of the dairy product (such as whether it is a low-acid product) and the packaging form (such as plastic bottles, glass bottles etc.) to ensure effective sterilization without compromising product quality.

Ready-to-eat food: Ready food is very suitable for sterilization using an industrial autoclave. This includes ready-to-eat bird's nests, canned food, ready-to-eat rice, canned vegetables and fruits, cooked meat, etc. These foods are sterilized and packed in retort bags, making them have a long shelf life and convenient for consumers to eat.

In order to ensure food safety, extend shelf life and maintain the original flavor of seafood, industrial autoclave is an ideal choice. The autoclave can provide a high temperature and high pressure environment to effectively kill bacteria, viruses and other harmful microorganisms in seafood products, and adjust the appropriate sterilization conditions according to the characteristics of seafood and packaging form.

Beverages: Like protein drinks and coconut milk drinks, they need to be sterilized in a food autoclave to ensure they remain safe and fresh.

Advantages of industrial autoclaves:

1. Efficient sterilization: It can quickly and thoroughly kill harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses in food under high temperature and high pressure conditions, ensure food safety, extend the shelf life of products, and maintain the nutritional content and original flavor and texture of products;

2. Uniform heat distribution: It adopts advanced automatic control system, which can monitor and adjust the temperature in the kettle in real time to ensure uniform heat distribution during the sterilization process and achieve good sterilization effect.

3. Strong adaptability: It is suitable for a variety of packaging forms, including glass bottles, plastic bottles, metal cans, soft packaging, etc., to meet the sterilization needs of different foods.

4. Energy saving and high efficiency: Through technologies such as hot water circulation or steam reuse, it reduces energy consumption, shortens sterilization time, and improves production efficiency.

5. High degree of automation: It has a high degree of automation, is easy to operate, and saves manpower. The product quality is strictly monitored throughout the process, with beautiful appearance, excellent manufacturing, and excellent stability.

6. Quality assurance: It maintains the original color, flavor and nutritional content of the food to avoid quality degradation caused by overheating.

7. Easy to operate: The new generation of control distribution box is more ergonomic and uses a German Siemens touch screen. The touch screen is more convenient for operation and observation.

8. Safe and reliable: Equipped with triple safety interlocks, the pot door flange is designed with a pressure relief structure to prevent the pot door from instantly popping open and causing safety accidents. The startup and operating condition detection can avoid safety problems caused by human errors.

9. Easy to clean and maintain: The structural design is easy to clean and disinfect, reducing the risk of cross contamination and low maintenance costs.

10. Wide range of applications: Suitable for almost all types of food processing, including dairy products, canned food, beverages, condiments, ready-to-eat foods, etc.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use of autoclaves in the food industry is essential to ensure the safety, quality and shelf life of food. Through high temperature and high pressure treatment, food can be effectively sterilized and preserved. Ensuring food safety, extending shelf life and maintaining nutritional value is an indispensable key equipment in the entire food production process. Click for Factory Price On Water Spray Retorts