Shellfish processing method

Abstract

A method of processing shellfish and product thereof which reduces the susceptability of shellfish or mollusc shells to fracturing and cracking during freezing and subsequent frozen storage and transport. The method comprises blow-drying the shellfish by means of heated, unheated or dehydrated air; applying an edible oil to the shellfish; draining the oiled product; and freezing the shellfish.

What we claim is:  
     
       1. A method of treating shellfish comprising: 
       blow drying the shellfish;  
       applying an edible oil to the shellfish;  
       draining the oiled product; and  
       freezing the shellfish.  
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim  1  wherein the initial blow drying step is followed by a dehydrating step wherein the shellfish are placed in a dehydrating cabinet for drying, preferably for between one and twenty hours at between 10° and 28° C. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claim  1  wherein the oil is heated, boiled or more preferably pre-warmed to up to 30° C. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in claim  1  wherein the shellfish are chilled during the draining step wherein the draining step occurs for up to 24 hours. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in claim  1  wherein the shellfish are blow dried at a temperature of 20° C. or less. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in claim  1  wherein the edible oil is a vegetable, animal synthetic or mineral oil. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim  1  further comprising: 
       vacuum sealing the oiled product in a vacuum bag;  
       cooking the vacuum bagged product in an immersion type cooker or similar, preferably cooking from 4 to 5 minutes at an immersion medium temperature of 80° to 90° C.;  
       cooling the cooked product in an ice slurry or similar for up to 30 minutes; and  
       blast freezing the bagged product to substantially −18° C.  
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in claim  1  applied to univalve and bivalve shellfish and similar molluscs. 
     
     
       9. Shellfish treated according to claim  1 . 
     
     
       10. A method of treating shellfish as claimed in claim  1  substantially as described herein. 
     
     
       11. A method as claimed in claim  1 , wherein said blow drying is effected using heated air. 
     
     
       12. A method as claimed in claim  1 , wherein said blow drying is effected using unheated air. 
     
     
       13. A method as claimed in claim  1 , wherein said blow drying is effected using dehydrated air.