Patent ID: 8088425

Claim:
A method of treating an outer surface of a food product, the method comprising: placing a food product having an outer surface on an advancement mechanism; providing a steam sleeve for generating a flow of steam having selected properties to treat the outer surface of the food product, the steam sleeve having an interior wall, an entrance and an exit, the steam sleeve having an interior length defined by the distance between the entrance and the exit; passing the food product in a feed direction through the steam sleeve using the advancement mechanism, the food product having a length greater than the interior length of the steam sleeve such that the food product simultaneously extends beyond both the entrance and exit during at least part of the step of passing the food product through the steam sleeve; and generating the flow of steam in the steam sleeve while the food product is passing therethrough, the flow of steam contacting the outer surface of the food product for treatment of the outer surface of the food product.