Apparatus and techniques for freezing and thawing of agricultural produce

Abstract

Apparatus for preserving fresh cut or uncut agricultural produce including a chamber operative to remove moisture from the fresh cut or uncut agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of the fresh cut or uncut agricultural produce and at least one freezing device operative to freeze the fresh cut or uncut agricultural produce.

1 . A method for preserving uncut fresh agricultural produce comprising:
 manually handling said uncut fresh agricultural produce;   thereafter, removing moisture from said uncut fresh agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of said uncut fresh agricultural produce at a rate which does not exceed approximately 30×10 −6  kg moisture/sec per area unit of said produce in meter 2 ; and   thereafter, freezing said uncut fresh agricultural produce.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  and wherein said removing moisture comprises removing moisture in an amount equal to approximately 10%-14% of said weight of said agricultural produce. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  and wherein said removing moisture comprises removing moisture in an amount equal to approximately 12% of said weight of said agricultural produce. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  and wherein said removing moisture comprises transporting said agricultural produce through a moisture removal chamber including at least one of a controlled temperature chamber, a controlled air flow chamber, a controlled temperature and air flow chamber, a microwave chamber, an infrared chamber, a convection chamber, a chamber having fluidized bed technology and a chamber having vacuum drying technology. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  and also comprising, prior to said freezing, pre-cooling said agricultural produce to a temperature between 0° C. and 5° C. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  and wherein said freezing comprises freezing said agricultural produce to a temperature between −40° C. and −35° C. by employing IQF freezing technology. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  and also comprising, following said freezing, adding liquid to said agricultural produce and defrosting said agricultural produce in the presence of said liquid. 
     
     
         8 . A method for preserving uncut fresh agricultural produce comprising:
 non-manually handling said uncut fresh agricultural produce;   thereafter, removing moisture from said uncut fresh agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of said uncut fresh agricultural produce at a rate which does not exceed approximately 60×10 −6  kg moisture/sec per area unit of said produce in meter 2 ; and   thereafter, freezing said uncut fresh agricultural produce.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  and wherein said removing moisture comprises removing moisture in an amount equal to approximately 10%-14% of said weight of said agricultural produce. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8  and wherein said removing moisture comprises removing moisture in an amount equal to approximately 12% of said weight of said agricultural produce. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8  and wherein said removing moisture comprises transporting said agricultural produce through a moisture removal chamber including at least one of a controlled temperature chamber, a controlled air flow chamber, a controlled temperature and air flow chamber, a microwave chamber, an infrared chamber, a convection chamber, a chamber having fluidized bed technology and a chamber having vacuum drying technology. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8  and also comprising, prior to said freezing, pre-cooling said agricultural produce to a temperature between 0° C. and 5° C. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 8  and wherein said freezing comprises freezing said agricultural produce to a temperature between −40° C. and −35° C. by employing IQF freezing technology. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 8  and also comprising, following said freezing, adding liquid to said agricultural produce and defrosting said agricultural produce in the presence of said liquid. 
     
     
         15 . A method for preserving fresh cut agricultural produce comprising:
 removing moisture from said fresh cut agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of said fresh cut agricultural produce at a rate which does not exceed approximately 300×10 −6  kg moisture/sec per area unit of said produce in meter 2 ; and   thereafter, freezing said fresh cut agricultural produce.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  and wherein said removing moisture comprises removing moisture in an amount equal to approximately 10%-14% of said weight of said agricultural produce. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  and wherein said removing moisture comprises removing moisture in an amount equal to approximately 12% of said weight of said agricultural produce. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15  and wherein said removing moisture comprises transporting said agricultural produce through a moisture removal chamber including at least one of a controlled temperature chamber, a controlled air flow chamber, a controlled temperature and air flow chamber, a microwave chamber, an infrared chamber, a convection chamber, a chamber having fluidized bed technology and a chamber having vacuum drying technology. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15  and also comprising, prior to said freezing, pre-cooling said agricultural produce to a temperature between 0° C. and 5° C. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 15  and wherein said freezing comprises freezing said agricultural produce to a temperature between −40° C. and −35° C. by employing IQF freezing technology. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 15  and also comprising, following said freezing, adding liquid to said agricultural produce and defrosting said agricultural produce in the presence of said liquid. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus for preserving manually handled uncut fresh agricultural produce comprising:
 a chamber operative to remove moisture from said manually handled uncut fresh agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of said manually handled uncut fresh agricultural produce at a rate which does not exceed approximately 30×10 −6  kg moisture/sec per area unit of said produce in meter 2 ; and   at least one freezing device operative to freeze said manually handled uncut fresh agricultural produce.   
     
     
         23 . Apparatus for preserving non-manually handled uncut fresh agricultural produce comprising:
 a chamber operative to remove moisture from said non-manually handled uncut fresh agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of said non-manually handled uncut fresh agricultural produce at a rate which does not exceed approximately 60×10 −6  kg moisture/sec per area unit of said produce in meter 2 ; and   at least one freezing device operative to freeze said non-manually handled uncut fresh agricultural produce.   
     
     
         24 . Apparatus for preserving fresh cut agricultural produce comprising:
 a chamber operative to remove moisture from said fresh cut agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of said fresh cut agricultural produce at a rate which does not exceed approximately 300×10 −6  kg moisture/sec per area unit of said produce in meter 2 ; and   at least one freezing device operative to freeze said fresh cut agricultural produce.   
     
     
         25 . A method of storing agricultural produce comprising:
 removing moisture from said agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of said agricultural produce;   thereafter, freezing said agricultural produce; and   thereafter, adding liquid to said agricultural produce and defrosting said agricultural produce in the presence of said liquid.   
     
     
         26 . Apparatus for storing agricultural produce comprising:
 a container for storing said frozen agricultural produce and having a container opening;   a seal formed over said opening of said container;   a cap removably attached to said container and disposed over said seal, said cap being apertured to permit liquid, but not said produce, to pass therethrough and out of said container.   
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 26  and wherein said container has indicated thereon a line indicating a desired level to which said liquid should be added to said container prior to defrosting. 
     
     
         28 . A method for storing agricultural produce comprising:
 removing moisture from said agricultural produce in an amount equal to between 5%-20% of the weight of said agricultural produce;   thereafter, freezing said agricultural produce and storing it in a container for storing frozen agricultural produce and having a container opening;   sealing the opening of said container;   storing said container containing said agricultural produce under freezing conditions;   unsealing the opening of said container;   supplying a liquid to said agricultural produce in said container;   defrosting said agricultural produce in said container in the presence of said liquid;   removably attaching an apertured cap to said container and pouring out said liquid from said container through said apertured cap, thereby permitting said liquid, but not said produce, to pass out of said container.   
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28  and wherein different types of said agricultural produce are mixed together. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28  and wherein said defrosting comprises defrosting said agricultural produce at room temperature for a duration of approximately 3 to 5 minutes. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 28  and wherein said defrosting comprises defrosting said agricultural produce in a microwave oven for a duration of approximately 15 to 30 seconds.