Method and device for multistage product frying

Abstract

A method is described wherein products, such as potato chips, vegetables, fruits, nuts or the like are fried in at least two stages. In the first stage the products are fried at a temperature between 90-190° C., where after the products are being transported to the second stage. In the second stage the products are subjected to frying under reduced pressure at 25-150 mbar at a temperature between 100-145° C. In the second stage evaporation is improved and maintained at a high level, because under said reduced vacuum conditions the evaporation temperature drops considerably and consequently the evaporation out of the products continues. This reduces the quantity of fatty and oily frying substance that is taken up in this stage by the product.

1 . A device for frying products in several stages, including a first and a second stage, the device comprising separate housings for each of the first and second stages, wherein the first stage for frying the products has a first stage housing at least partly positioned above a second stage housing of the second stage, wherein the second stage is equipped for frying products under reduced pressure, and wherein an output of the first stage is configured to couple to an input of the second stage, whereby the second stage housing of the second stage has an interior portion which is mobile relative to second stage housing, wherein the device is configured for carrying out a method in which the products are withdrawn from an oil or fat bath in the first stage, brought to an exit of the first stage and transported to the input of the second stage, wherein the widths of paths over which the products progress through the at least the first and second stages become broader such that the output of the first stage has a smaller width than the input of the second stage. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a sluice coupled between the output of the first stage and the input of the second stage. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the sluice width lies in between the widths of the output of the first stage and the input of the second stage. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured such that products are transported through the stages along a path that successively increases in width so that the products move in succession along the path without aggregating. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the device comprises a sluice coupled between the output of the first stage and the input of the second stage. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the sluice width lies in between the widths of the output of the first stage and the input of the second stage.