Patent ID: 8234795

Claim:
A commercial method of drying produce in a centrifugal drier comprising a housing and a drum, the method comprising: loading the produce into a first volume of a multi-volume basket, wherein the basket has perforated walls defining the sides of the basket, a closed lower end, and an open upper end, wherein the interior volume of the basket is divided into a first volume and a second volume by a perforated inner divider that is oriented concentrically to the walls defining the sides of the basket, wherein support rods connect the perforated inner divider to the perforated walls of the basket, and wherein the first volume is disposed inside the inner divider and includes the center of the basket; loading the produce into a second volume of a multi-volume basket, wherein the second volume is disposed between the inner divider and the walls defining the sides of the basket; and rotating the drum and thereby rotating the basket, loaded with produce in the first and second volumes, to cause fluids to drain out of the produce toward the perforated walls or bottom of the basket and into the drier housing to yield dried produce.