Process for enzyme peeling of fresh citrus fruit
US5000967A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1989 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12Y302/01015
- WIPO fieldFood chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An improved process for preparing individual fruit sections from fresh citrus fruit, with improved ease of peeling and sectioning and with reduced amounts of adhering albedo. The fresh citrus fruit are initially scored so as to penetrate the albedo layer, but not the underlying juice sections, and the scored fruit is then immersed in an aqueous solution of a pectinase enzyme. A series of positive pressure pulses is applied to the immersed fruit, to infuse the enzyme solution into the albedo and, after storing the infusion-treated fruit for a prescribed time period, the peel and other membrane material can be readily removed from the fruit and the individual fruit segments readily separated from each other. Infusing the pectinase enzyme solution under pressure, rather than vacuum, and maintaining the solution at approximately room temperature, rather than an elevated temperature, significantly improves the ease of peeling and sectioning and reduces the amount of adhering albedo.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.