Patent ID: 7615243

Claim:
A. method of peeling agricultural products having skins, the steps comprising: immersing the agricultural products to be peeled in a treating solution in a first area of a peeling apparatus, the immersed products and treating solution forming a mixture in the first area at a first pressure; transporting the mixture in a second area of the peeling apparatus, the second area having a first end at the first pressure and a second end at a second pressure; transporting the mixture in a third area of the peeling apparatus, the third area being at an essentially constant second pressure; transporting the mixture in a fourth area of the peeling apparatus, the fourth area having a first end at the second pressure and having a second end at a third pressure that is essentially equal to the first pressure; transporting the mixture from the fourth area to a separator, the separator being essentially at the third pressure; and further including the step of providing a liquid barometric liquid seal in one end of the second area and in one end of the fourth area by flooding a feed vessel in the first area and portions of the second and fourth areas with treating solution up to a predetermined height in the feed vessel and predetermined levels and in the second and fourth areas.