Patent ID: 8875623
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: A01J,A23C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for producing a pasta filata cheese product from cheese curd in a continuous process comprising: an elongated chamber having a chamber wall, a first end, a second end, an inlet at the first end to receive the curd, an outlet at the second end, and at least one agitator extending through the chamber; a plurality of steam injector nozzles spaced along the chamber wall, each steam injector nozzle having a respective opening into the elongated chamber, and adapted to inject steam directly into the cheese curd within the elongated chamber; and rotating means operably engaged with the at least one agitator to rotate the at least one agitator at a selected rotational speed, wherein the agitator includes an axial shaft, wherein the axial shaft has a diameter of between about 20% and 80% of the internal diameter of the elongated chamber, and wherein the steam injected through the injection nozzles is configured to reach the inner most part of the cheese curd which is adjacent the shaft.