| 摘要 |
An apparatus (10) for the smoking of food articles, such as fish, by impingement of an air/smoke mixture thereon, comprises an oven (20), an air/smoke handling unit (11) in communication with the oven (20), the air/smoke handling unit (11) having a regulated air inlet (12) and a regulated smoke inlet (13) for the independent introduction of air and smoke, and a fan (18) for drawing in the air and smoke and circulating the air/smoke mixture through the oven (20) and back to the air/smoke handling unit (11). This results in an increase in pressure within the apparatus (10). Means for heating the air/smoke mixture within the air/smoke handling unit (11), means for monitoring pressure changes within the apparatus (10) and means for intermittently venting part of the air/smoke mixture so as to reduce the pressure within the apparatus (10) are also provided. The pressure within the oven (20) of the apparatus (10) can be raised to improve impingement of the air/smoke mixture onto the food articles. The control of the level of impingement of the smoke onto the food articles means that the organoleptic properties, consistency and texture of the smoked product are reliably of a high standard. The smoking process is completed within a shorter period of time than conventional processes, emissions to the atmosphere are reduced and labour, fuel and electrical costs are reduced. |
