JPH0349545B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for removing moisture from tofu shell (okara) with high moisture content in order to effectively utilize it.

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, tofu shells are mixed with seasonings and cooked.
It was used as a side dish or as feed for livestock, but these uses were limited and many of the tofu shells were thrown away.

In other words, tofu shell contains water at a high rate of about 75%, and there was no effective way to use it other than as a side dish or feed. Furthermore, there has been a desire for a method that is inexpensive and allows effective use of tofu shells when used as feed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Therefore, it has been desired to develop a method in which tofu shells, which are used only in small amounts as side dishes and otherwise used as feed or thrown away, can be used by mixing them into various foods.

To do this, it is necessary to solve the problem of high moisture content, which is the most difficult problem with tofu shells. However, removing the moisture from tofu shells by conventionally known drying means requires a lot of effort and a long time, and is not industrially profitable.

This invention proposes a method that can easily and quickly remove water from tofu shells.

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, the method of the present invention is based on a. A heating and pressurizing device 1 in which a steam venting pipe 7 is provided in the front part of a cylinder 5 in which a feed shaft 6 is rotatably housed and communicates with the outside. A step of introducing tofu shell A as a raw material, b. A step of heating and pressurizing the tofu shell A while moving it forward by the feed shaft 6 so that water vapor blows out from the small hole of the partition 7a provided in the steam vent pipe 7. , c, a step of blowing out only moisture as steam from the small holes, and then extruding the tofu shell A with low moisture through the outlet 11;
The system was designed to include each step of the process.

[Effect]

Since the above-mentioned means are implemented, in the method of the present invention, when the tofu shell A heated and pressurized in the heating and pressurizing device 1 reaches the position of the steam release pipe 7, steam is vigorously blown out. Then, this tofu shell A is continuously extruded from the exhaust port 11 in the form of granules or strips with a moisture content of, for example, 10%.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the method of the present invention will be explained in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the heating and pressurizing apparatus used for carrying out the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a heating and pressurizing device, in which tofu shells A introduced from an input section 2 are sent to a kneading section 4 via a communication section 3. The kneading section 4 has two rotatably built-in feed shafts 6 inside a cylindrical body 5, each having a screw fitted on the outside of the shaft.

Further, near the front of the kneading section 4, a steam vent pipe 7 communicating with the outside of the heating and pressurizing device 1 is provided.

It is desirable to provide this steam venting pipe 7 at a plurality of locations, and a partition 7a having a large number of small holes formed therein is provided at one or more locations near the joint with the cylindrical body 5.

This partition 7a is designed to prevent the tofu shells A, which are being advanced in the cylinder 5 under high pressure, from entering the steam release pipe 7, while allowing only steam to escape through the small holes.

An outer cylinder 9 is provided on the outside of the cylinder 5 with an appropriate space 8 in between. A temperature control pipe 10 is disposed within the space 8 to allow water to flow therethrough.
Furthermore, a heater (not shown) such as an electric heater is attached to the outside of the outer cylinder 9, and the heating action of the heater heats the tofu shell A inside the cylinder 5 through the space 8 and the cylinder 5. I have to. Therefore, it is possible to heat the tofu shell A by adjusting the amount of heat required depending on the state of the water passing through the temperature control pipe 10 and the heating state of the heater.

A discharge port 11 is formed at the front end of the cylindrical body 5, and the tofu shell A that has been heated and pressurized within the cylindrical body 5 is extruded from the discharge port 11 as a dry body.

That is, the tofu shells A are kneaded within the cylinder 5 by the rotation of the two feed shafts 6. moreover,
The tofu shell A is heated and is pushed forward and pressurized by the action of the feed shaft 6. The water in the tofu shell heated and pressurized in this way is removed from the steam vent pipe 7.
The water content in the tofu shell rapidly decreases.

Further, the tofu shell extruded from the discharge port 11 is released from the pressurized state and instantly expands into a foamed state, or when the water content is even lower, is discharged as a powdered material.

Note that the rotational speed of the two feed shafts 6, the amount of heat heated by the heater, the state of water passing through the temperature control pipe 10, etc. can be appropriately adjusted depending on the dehydration state of the tofu shell A.

The tofu shells with a low moisture content thus obtained are mixed into raw materials for confectionery and other foods and used as a filler.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the method of this invention, the high moisture content of tofu shells can be quickly and easily reduced to low moisture content, and this low moisture tofu shell has good storage stability and can be used as a filler for various foodstuffs. It can be effectively used in a direction completely different from conventional methods.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus used to carry out the method of this invention. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the kneading section. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Heating and pressurizing device, 5... Cylindrical body, 6... Feed shaft, 7... Steam vent pipe.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 a. A heating and pressurizing device 1 is provided with a steam venting pipe 7 that communicates the outside with the cylinder 5 in which the cylinder 5 rotatably houses the feed shaft 6. a step of introducing a certain tofu shell A; b. a step of heating and pressurizing the tofu shell A while advancing it by the feed shaft 6 so that water vapor is blown out from a small hole in the partition 7a provided in the steam vent pipe 7; After only moisture is blown out as steam from the small hole, the tofu shell A is converted into low moisture and discharged through the outlet 11.
A method for removing water from tofu shells, comprising the following steps: extrusion.