FrozenVegetable Processing Plant
Frozen Vegetable Processing Plant
Freezing is increasingly becoming the processing technology of choice for fruits and vegetables around the world. Fruits and vegetables of seasonal nature, with consumption throughout the year are ones with maximum potential for processing. Green peas, with its use in several Indian cuisines, fits these criteria perfectly and hence is now one of the most processed vegetable using freezing technology. India is the highest producer of green peas and also its highest importer In India. This explains the high demand that this processed vegetable commands in the market.
Other fruits and vegetables processing lines commonly seen with freezing technology include:
Frozen Vegetable Processing Plant
PROCESSING LINE
The entire frozen vegetable processing line can be divided in the following sections:
PREPARATION
This involves the following important machines:Peas Depodder / Slicer / Dicer - The raw vegetables are fed into a peas depodder / Slicer / Dicer machine where the vegetables are brought in the form in which they are finally stored. For e.g. shelled green peas, diced carrots, shredded cabbage etc.
Collection conveyors - The prepared vegetables are collected in conveyors and transferred to the main processing line.
PROCESSING
Vegetable Washer - To wash the product thoroughly before further processing.
Vegetable Blancher - To kill all enzymatic activity by heating the product in boiling water. Blanchers could be of belt type or drum type depending upon the application. Blanching time can be varied to suit different products.
Vegetable Cooler - The temperature of the product is brought down to 10-15 deg C so that cooling in the freezer is easier. Cooler involves passing the product through chilled water for specified amount of time. Chilling time can be varied to suit different products
Dewatering Conveyor - Surface moisture of the product is removed before freezing. This ensures that no ice is formed on the product during freezing and improves efficiency of the freezer. Dewatering is done using vibratory conveyors.
IQFFreezing is done in Individual Quick Freezers. The product is fluidized as it moves forward ensuring that every grain of product is freezed properly and the product does not lump together
COLD STORAGE
Storage for the frozen product is done in cold chambers where the temperature is maintained at -18 deg. C. Series of compressors and other chilling equipment are used to maintain uniform cold temperature in the chambers.
