Patent ID: 6172246
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: A23C,A23L,A24B,B01D,C11B

Abstract:
A multi-stage process for reducing the amount of oil from an oil-containing cooked food product selected from agricultural and animal-derived food products, which process comprises:(a) introducing the oil-containing food product into an extraction zone;(b) introducing an effective solvent into said extraction zone;(c) maintaining said solvent in contact with said food product at an effective temperature and pressure so that the solvent is in liquid form, and for an effective amount of time to remove a fraction of the oil, thereby resulting in a partially extracted food product;(d) passing the resulting oil-laden solvent, in liquid form, from said extraction zone to a separation zone, wherein solvent is separated from the oil for recycle to the extraction zone;(e) collecting the oil from the separation zone;(f) reducing the pressure of said extraction zone to a point where at least a fraction of any remaining solvent will vaporize;(g) introducing an effective solvent into said extraction zone;(h) maintaining said solvent in contact with said partially extracted food product at an effective temperature and pressure so that the solvent is in liquid form, and for an effective amount of time to remove a predetermined amount of oil;(i) passing the resulting oil-laden solvent, in a liquid form, from said extraction zone to a separation zone, wherein solvent is separated from the oil for recycle to the extraction zone;(j) collecting the oil from the separation zone;(k) reducing the pressure of said extraction zone to a point where at least a fraction of any remaining solvent is vaporized;(l) repeating steps (g) through (k) until the desired level of oil extraction of said food product is reached; and(m) removing the extracted food product from the extraction zone.