PROCESS FOR DEGERMINATING AND DRYING

摘要

Described is a process for producing degerminated, dried materials, especially germless, dried foodstuffs or luxury foods or their primary products. The first step in this process is a degermination of the material, where a germinal material containing water is brought into contact with an inert gas, preferably carbon dioxide or a carbon dioxide-nitrogen mixture. This treatment may involve the per se known method of cell cracking or a method of supercritical treatment, particularly for extraction purposes. Preferably, germinal material of set water content is brought into contact with the inert gas, which is preferably circulated and has a water content at least high enough for the equilibrium steam pressure of the material. The degerminating treatment is followed by drying process wherein the material is brought into contact with a circulated inert gas mixture, preferably carbon dioxide or a carbon dioxide-nitrogen mixture, that is capable of absorbing water. The process is good for gentle degerminating and drying of foods and for gentle degerminating and drying of already dried but germinal materials.