Production method of laver processed food product

Abstract

To produce a laver processed food product having a desirable crisp texture.SOLUTION: A production method of a laver processed food product includes: high-speed dehydrating laver dough sheet-made on a laver reed screen to the moisture content of 7% or lower; heating the dehydrated laver dough using oil; and then removing the oil by applying the warm air. The method also includes high-speed dehydrating the laver dough with microwave. On a transportation route of the laver reed screen, there are provided a sheet-making device that makes a sheet of the laver dough on the laver reed screen and a dehydration device that dehydrates the laver dough sheet-made with the warm air. Dehydrated laver is produced continuously by dehydrating with the dehydration device the laver dough sheet-made by the sheet-making device while transporting the laver reed screen. Meanwhile a laver processed food product is produced using the laver dough sheet-made by the sheet-making device within a predetermined time immediately after the operation of the dehydration device or immediately after a change of a dehydration condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a processed seaweed food. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in the production of processed seaweed foods, dried seaweed continuously produced in a dried seaweed production apparatus has been used as a raw material (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the manufacture of dried seaweed, a paper-making device that makes seaweed dough on the seaweed mat and a drying device that dries the made seaweed dough with hot air are provided on the transport path of the seaweed mat, and dried seaweed is continuously produced by drying the seaweed dough made by the paper-making device in the drying device while transporting the seaweed mat. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-68 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional method for producing processed seaweed foods mentioned above, the seaweed dough is slowly dried over time using hot air in the drying device of the dried seaweed production equipment to produce dried seaweed, which has a moisture content of around 10%.

[0006] Therefore, when dried seaweed continuously produced in a dried seaweed production apparatus is used as a raw material to produce a seaweed processed food, the resulting seaweed processed food has a high moisture content and is not chewy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Therefore, in the present invention according to claim 1, in the method for producing processed seaweed food, the seaweed dough that has been pressed onto a seaweed mat is rapidly dried to a moisture content of 7% or less, and then heated in oil, and then the oil is drained off by applying hot air.

[0008] In addition, in the present invention according to claim 2, in the present invention according to claim 1, the seaweed dough is rapidly dried by microwaves.

[0009] In addition, in the present invention according to claim 3, in the present invention according to claim 1 or 2, a paper-making device for making nori dough on the nori screen and a drying device for drying the made nori dough with hot air are provided on the transport path of the nori screen, and the nori dough made by the paper-making device is dried in the drying device while the nori screen is transported, thereby continuously producing dried nori, and in this process, nori processed foods are produced using the nori dough made by the paper-making device at a predetermined time immediately after the drying device starts operating or immediately after the drying conditions are changed. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The present invention provides the following advantages.

[0011] That is, in the method for producing seaweed processed foods according to the present invention, the seaweed dough that has been pressed onto a seaweed mat is rapidly dried to a moisture content of 7% or less, and then heated in oil, and the oil is then drained off while applying hot air, thereby producing seaweed processed foods that are easy to bite into.

[0012] In particular, when the laver dough is rapidly dried using microwaves, a crisp laver processed food can be produced in a short period of time.

[0013] In addition, a paper-making device that sheets nori dough on the nori screen and a drying device that dries the sheets of nori dough with hot air are provided on the transport path of the nori screen, and the nori dough sheeted by the paper-making device is dried in the drying device while the nori screen is transported, thereby continuously producing dried nori.In this case, if it is decided to produce nori processed foods using the nori dough sheeted by the paper-making device at a specified time immediately after the drying device starts operating or immediately after the drying conditions are changed, the raw materials for nori processed foods can be produced during the period from immediately after the drying device starts operating or immediately after the drying conditions are changed until the drying device reaches a stable state, and thereafter, dried seaweed can be produced uniformly in the drying device in a stable state. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for producing processed seaweed food. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a dried seaweed production apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the method for producing processed seaweed food according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a processed seaweed food can be produced using seaweed dough produced in the process (midway) of producing dried seaweed in a dried seaweed production apparatus 1.

[0017] The dried seaweed production device 1 has a conveying device 3 inside a housing 2. Here, the conveying device 3 intermittently conveys a screen frame 5 to which a plurality of (here, eight) seaweed screens 4 arranged side by side are detachably attached, and is driven by an endless front conveying mechanism 7 provided in a front housing 6 and an endless rear conveying mechanism 9 provided in a rear housing 8 in cooperation with each other.

[0018] This conveying device 3 first conveys the screen frame 5 with the seaweed screen 4 attached thereto from front to rear in a horizontal state using the front conveying mechanism 7 at the upper side of the front conveying mechanism 7, then transfers the screen frame 5 from the upper rear end of the front conveying mechanism 7 to the upper front end of the rear conveying mechanism 9, conveys the screen frame 5 from front to rear in a vertical state at the upper side of the rear conveying mechanism 9, then transports it from rear to front at the lower side of the rear conveying mechanism 9, and then transfers the screen frame 5 from the lower front end of the rear conveying mechanism 9 to the lower rear end of the front conveying mechanism 7, and conveys it from rear to front in a horizontal state at the lower side of the front conveying mechanism 7. As a result, the conveying device 3 forms a conveying path that circulates and transports the nori screen 4 together with the screen frame 5 from the upper front to the upper rear of the front conveying mechanism 7, from the upper front to the upper rear of the rear conveying mechanism 9, from the lower rear to the lower front of the rear conveying mechanism 9, and then from the lower rear to the lower front of the front conveying mechanism 7.

[0019] In the dried seaweed production apparatus 1, a paper making device 10, a dehydrating device 11, a drying device 12, a peeling device 13, and a seaweed screen cleaning device 14 are arranged in this order along the transport path of the seaweed screen 4 transported by the transport device 3, and the seaweed dough papered on the seaweed screen 4 transported in a cyclical manner by the transport device 3 is dehydrated and dried to produce dried seaweed.

[0020] Furthermore, in the dried seaweed manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present invention, an input device 16 is provided upstream of the paper making device 10 on the transport path of the seaweed mat 4 for transporting empty seaweed mats for processing 15 into the transport device 3 (front transport mechanism 7), and an output device 17 is provided downstream of the paper making device 10 (dehydration device 11) on the transport path for transporting the seaweed mats for processing 15 from which seaweed dough has been made by the paper making device 10 from the transport device 3 (front transport mechanism 7).

[0021] The conveying device 3, paper making device 10, dewatering device 11, drying device 12, peeling device 13, seaweed mat cleaning device 14, carry-in device 16, and carry-out device 17 are all controlled in conjunction with each other by a control device.

[0022] Here, the paper-making device 10 is located at the upper front side of the front housing 6, and supplies a predetermined amount of seaweed raw material consisting of raw seaweed and water to the upper surface of each seaweed screen 4 while the conveying device 3 is stopped, and paper-makes seaweed dough into a predetermined shape on each seaweed screen 4.

[0023] The dehydration device 11 is located at the upper rear side of the front housing 6, and while the conveying device 3 is stopped, it dehydrates the nori dough sheeted on each nori screen 4 by pressing a sponge or the like against the nori dough.

[0024] The drying device 12 has multiple dryers (six in this case) arranged in a front-to-back configuration on the side of the rear housing 8, and dries the seaweed dough that has been laid on each seaweed mat 4 using the heat of the warm air generated by each dryer.

[0025] The peeling device 13 is disposed at the lower rear side of the front housing 6, and peels and collects the dried seaweed dried in the drying device 12 from each seaweed screen 4 while the conveying device 3 is stopped.

[0026] The seaweed mat cleaning device 14 is disposed at the lower front side of the front housing 6 and cleans the upper and lower surfaces of each seaweed mat 4.

[0027] The carry-in device 16 places an empty processing nori screen 15 on top of the nori screen 4 attached to the screen frame 5 transported by the transport device 3.

[0028] The loading device 16 is provided with a stocker 18 on the side of the housing 2 in which a plurality of processing nori screens 15 are stacked one on top of the other, and is also provided with a transport mechanism 19 for transporting the processing nori screens 15 between the screen frame 5 transported by the transport device 3 and the stocker 18.

[0029] Then, the carry-in device 16 moves the transfer mechanism 19 above the stocker 18, causes the transfer mechanism 19 to suction and remove one processing nori screen 15 from the stocker 18, moves the transfer mechanism 19 above one of the nori screens 4 on the screen frame 5, and while the conveying device 3 is stopped, releases the suction of the transfer mechanism 19 to place the processing nori screen 15 on top of the nori screen 4. As a result, the processing nori screen 15 is conveyed together with the screen frame 5 (nori screen 4) by the conveying device 3, and after a predetermined amount of nori dough is made by the paper making device 10, the nori dough is dehydrated by the dehydrating device 11.

[0030] The discharge device 17 discharges the processing nori screen 15 from the conveying device 3 after it has been placed on top of one of the nori screens 4 of the screen frame 5 being transported by the conveying device 3 and has been paper-made by the paper-making device 10 and dehydrated by the dehydration device 11.

[0031] A rapid drying device 20 is connected to the discharge device 17, and the discharge device 17 is provided with a transfer mechanism 21 that transfers the processing nori screen 15, which is transported together with the screen frame 5 (nori screen 4) by the conveying device 3, to the rapid drying device 20.

[0032] Then, the discharge device 17 moves the transfer mechanism 21 to above the processing nori screen 15, and while the conveying device 3 is stopped, the transfer mechanism 21 adsorbs and removes the processing nori screen 15, moves the transfer mechanism 21 to the rapid drying device 20, and releases the adsorption to carry the processing nori screen 15 into the rapid drying device 20.

[0033] The rapid drying device 20 irradiates microwaves onto the laver dough produced on the processing laver mat 15, thereby rapidly drying the laver dough to a moisture content of 5-7% in 2-5 minutes.

[0034] In the method for producing a processed seaweed food according to the present invention, when producing dried seaweed using the dried seaweed production apparatus 1, a portion of the seaweed dough is rapidly dried using the rapid drying device 20 to produce a processed seaweed food.

[0035] In the dried seaweed production equipment 1, a paper-making device 10 for making seaweed dough on the seaweed screen 4 (screen frame 5) is provided on the transport path of the seaweed screen 4 (screen frame 5) by the transport device 3, and a drying device 12 for drying the made seaweed dough with hot air.As shown in FIG. 1, while the seaweed screen 4 is continuously transported by the transport device 3, the seaweed dough made by the paper-making device 10 is dehydrated in the dehydrator 11 and then normally dried in the drying device 12, thereby continuously producing dried seaweed.

[0036] However, when the seaweed dough is dried in the drying device 12 in the usual way (drying with hot air at 40 to 80°C for 2 to 3 hours), dried seaweed with a moisture content of about 10% is produced. This dried seaweed has a good texture compared to other seaweed that is generally distributed. However, because this dried seaweed is dried slowly over a long period of time, the shrinkage rate of the seaweed leaves is small and it cannot be said to be a seaweed with good crispness, so it is not suitable to use the dried seaweed as it is as a raw material to make seaweed processed foods.

[0037] In addition, in the dried seaweed production apparatus 1, immediately after the drying device 12 is operated or immediately after the settings of the drying conditions (temperature, humidity, drying time, etc.) of the drying device 12 are changed, it takes a certain amount of time for the drying device 12 to satisfy the drying conditions such as the set temperature, humidity, drying time, etc., and during that time, the drying conditions of the drying device 12 are unstable.

[0038] Therefore, at a predetermined time immediately after starting operation of the drying device 12 or immediately after changing the settings of the drying conditions of the drying device 12, the loading device 16 of the dried seaweed production apparatus 1 is driven to place the processing seaweed screen 15 on top of the seaweed screen 4 transported by the transport device 3, and as shown in Figure 1, while the processing seaweed screen 15 is continuously transported by the transport device 3 of the dried seaweed production apparatus 1, the seaweed dough papered by the papermaking device 10 is dehydrated in the dehydrator 11, and then the unloading device 17 is driven to unload only the processing seaweed screen 15 placed on top of the seaweed screen 4 transported by the transport device 3 and transported into the rapid drying device 20, and the seaweed dough papered on the processing seaweed screen 15 is rapidly dried in the rapid drying device 20.

[0039] Thereafter, seasonings such as salt are applied to the seaweed dough that has been rapidly dried in the rapid drying device 20, and the dough is then fried in edible oil. Note that the rapidly dried seaweed dough can be fried or stir-fried in oil as long as it can be heated and solidified (hardened to the point where it does not bend).

[0040] After that, hot air is blown onto the fried seaweed dough to thoroughly remove the moisture and oil, producing a seaweed processed food. For example, a net is placed at the upper opening of a container that holds hot water, and the seaweed dough is placed on the net for about 1 to 5 minutes. By blowing hot air onto the seaweed dough through convection of steam evaporating from the hot water, the moisture and oil contained in (adhering to) the seaweed dough can be dripped into the container. Note that hot air may be forcibly blown onto the seaweed dough.

[0041] This seaweed processed food uses seaweed dough that has been rapidly dried to a moisture content of 5-7% in 2-5 minutes as an ingredient, resulting in a large shrinkage rate of the seaweed leaves, making the seaweed processed food crisp and chewy. If the drying time is too short, the seaweed dough will not dry sufficiently, and if the drying time is 10 minutes or longer, the shrinkage rate of the seaweed leaves will be small. If the moisture content of the seaweed dough is lower than 5%, it will become brittle and crushed after drying, and if the moisture content of the seaweed dough is higher than 7%, the seaweed processed food will not be crisp and chewy.

[0042] In particular, immediately after starting the drying device 12 or immediately after changing the drying conditions of the drying device 12, a high-quality processed seaweed food can be produced without producing a large amount of non-uniform dried seaweed using an unstable drying device 12. The predetermined time immediately after starting the drying device 12 or immediately after changing the drying conditions may be a preset time or may be the time until it is confirmed by various sensors provided in the drying device 12 that the drying conditions have stabilized.

[0043] In addition, in the past, when producing dried seaweed with food additives such as seasoned seaweed, the food additives were added to the surface of the dried seaweed after it was produced, and then it was dried again. Therefore, the drying process was required twice, which required cost, time, and labor for production.

[0044] Therefore, in the production of the above-mentioned processed seaweed food, food additives are added to the moist seaweed raw material consisting of seaweed raw material and water prior to the drying process in the dried seaweed production apparatus 1, and the drying process is carried out only once, thereby reducing the cost, time and labor required for production.

[0045] That is, in the above-mentioned dried seaweed production apparatus 1, an additive device 24 for adding food additives to the seaweed raw material is connected to the middle of a supply pipe 23 connecting a raw material tank 22 for storing seaweed raw material and the paper making apparatus 10.

[0046] The adding device 24 is connected to an additive tank 26 for storing food additives via an adjustment valve 25 at a midpoint of the supply pipe 23. The raw material tank 22 and the adding device 24 (adjustment valve 25, additive tank 26) are connected to a control device and are driven and controlled by the control device.

[0047] When producing normal dried seaweed (dried seaweed without added food additives), the control device closes the adjustment valve 25 and supplies only the seaweed raw material from the raw material tank 22 to the paper-making device 10, which then produces only the seaweed raw material, dehydrates it in the dehydrator 11, and dries it in the dryer 12.

[0048] On the other hand, when producing dried seaweed containing added food additives, the control device adjusts the flow rate of the regulating valve 25, adds a preset amount of food additives to the seaweed raw material supplied from the raw material tank 22, and supplies the seaweed raw material to the paper-making device 10, then drives the carrying-in device 16 to place the processing seaweed screen 15 on top of the seaweed screen 4 transported by the conveying device 3, and while the processing seaweed screen 15 is continuously transported by the conveying device 3, the seaweed raw material containing the food additives is papered in the paper-making device 10, and after dehydration in the dehydrating device 11, drives the carrying-out device 17 to transport only the processing seaweed screen 15 placed on top of the seaweed screen 4 transported by the conveying device 3 and transports it to the rapid drying device 20, and the seaweed dough papered on the processing seaweed screen 15 is rapidly dried in the rapid drying device 20.

[0049] Here, the food additives are added to the raw seaweed before it is made into paper and dried, but the present invention is not limited to this and any food additives can be added to the raw seaweed before it is dried. For example, an additive device for adding food additives to the raw seaweed may be provided downstream of the paper making device 10 and the dehydrating device 11 and upstream of the discharge device 17 on the transport path of the raw seaweed material in the dried seaweed production apparatus 1. The additive device may add food additives supplied from an additive tank for storing food additives to the raw seaweed material that has been made into paper. The food additives may be sprayed from above the raw seaweed material, or the food additives may be applied to the upper surface of the raw seaweed material with a roller, a brush, or the like. In this case, too, when producing normal dried seaweed (dried seaweed without food additives), the control device stops the adding device, supplies the seaweed raw material to the paper-making device 10, paper-makes the seaweed raw material, dehydrates it in the dehydration device 11, and dries it in the drying device 12 without adding food additives to the seaweed raw material in the adding device. On the other hand, when producing dried seaweed with added food additives, the control device operates the adding device, drives the carry-in device 16, and transports the seaweed raw material by the transport device 3. The processing laver screen 15 is placed on top of the laver screen 4 being conveyed by the conveying device 3, and the laver raw material is supplied to the paper-making device 10 while the processing laver screen 15 is continuously conveyed by the conveying device 3. The laver raw material is papered by the paper-making device 10, dehydrated by the dehydrating device 11, and food additives are added to the laver raw material by the adding device. Then, the carrying-out device 17 is driven to carry out only the processing laver screen 15 placed on top of the laver screen 4 being conveyed by the conveying device 3 and carry it into the rapid drying device 20, and the laver dough papered on the processing laver screen 15 is rapidly dried by the rapid drying device 20.

[0050] The food additives are not limited to seasonings for producing seasoned seaweed, but may also be preservatives, sweeteners, coloring agents, flavorings, etc. For example, seasonings and sweeteners may be used to improve the taste of dried seaweed, coloring agents may be used to improve the color and gloss of dried seaweed, preservatives may be used to extend the expiration date of dried seaweed, and flavorings may be used to improve the aroma of dried seaweed.

[0051] In addition, the control device may operate the additive device depending on the seaweed raw material to control whether or not to add food additives to the seaweed raw material. For example, an image of the seaweed raw material (seaweed raw material) before or after it is made into a seaweed mat 4 may be taken and processed, and if the color, luster, etc. of the seaweed raw material (seaweed raw material) exceeds a preset reference value, the control device may stop the operation of the additive device to produce normal dried seaweed (dried seaweed without added food additives), while if it falls below the reference value, the control device may operate the additive device to produce dried seaweed with added additives. Also, the taste, aroma, etc. of the seaweed raw material may be detected by a sensor, and similar control may be performed based on the detected value.

[0052] As described above, the method for producing the above-mentioned processed seaweed food involves rapidly drying the seaweed dough that has been pressed onto a seaweed mat (processing seaweed mat 15) to a moisture content of 7% or less, and then heating it in oil.

[0053] Therefore, the method for producing a processed seaweed food having the above-described configuration can produce a processed seaweed food with good crispness.

[0054] In addition, the method for producing the above-mentioned processed seaweed food is configured to rapidly dry the seaweed dough using microwaves.

[0055] Therefore, the method for producing processed seaweed food having the above-mentioned configuration can produce crisp processed seaweed food in a short period of time.

[0056] In addition, the manufacturing method for the above-mentioned processed seaweed food includes a paper-making device 10 for papering seaweed dough onto the seaweed mat 4 (processing seaweed mat 15) and a drying device 12 for drying the papered seaweed dough with hot air, which are provided on the transport path of the seaweed mat 4 (processing seaweed mat 15).While transporting the seaweed mat 4 (processing seaweed mat 15), the seaweed dough (seaweed mat 4) papered by the paper-making device 10 is dried in the drying device 12, thereby continuously producing dried seaweed, and the seaweed processed food is manufactured using the seaweed dough (processing seaweed mat 15) papered by the paper-making device 10 at a predetermined time immediately after the drying device 12 starts operating or the drying conditions are changed.

[0057] Therefore, in the method for producing seaweed processed foods configured as described above, the raw materials for seaweed processed foods can be produced by utilizing the period from immediately after the drying device 12 starts operating or immediately after the drying conditions are changed until the drying device 12 reaches a stable state, and thereafter, dried seaweed can be produced uniformly in the drying device 12 in a stable state.

[0058] In addition, the method for producing the above-mentioned processed seaweed food involves adding food additives to a seaweed raw material (seaweed raw material before drying) consisting of raw seaweed and water, and then drying the seaweed.

[0059] Therefore, in the manufacturing method for seaweed processed food having the above-mentioned configuration, dried seaweed containing added food additives can be produced with only one drying process, thereby reducing the cost, time and effort required for production.

[0060] In addition, in the past, discolored seaweed raw materials and seaweed raw materials that have been picked many times and have little flavor or aroma have low commercial value and are likely to be sold at a loss, making them unprofitable for producers and resulting in disposal at sea. However, the above-mentioned method for producing seaweed processed foods can increase the commercial value and produce dried seaweed that is profitable for producers.

[0061] In addition, the method for producing the above-mentioned processed seaweed food is configured to adhere food additives to the surface of the seaweed raw material that has been papered onto a seaweed mat and then dry it.

[0062] Therefore, in the manufacturing method for processed seaweed food having the above-mentioned configuration, food additives can be effectively attached to the surface of the paper-prepared seaweed raw material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Dried seaweed production equipment 2 Housing 3 Conveyor device 4 Seaweed tray 5 Frame 6 Front case 7 Front transport mechanism 8 Rear housing 9 Rear conveyance mechanism 10 Paper making device 11 Dehydration equipment 12 Drying equipment 13 Peeling device 14 Seaweed screen cleaning device 15 Seaweed cage for processing 16 Carrying device 17 Unloading device 18 Stocker 19 Transfer mechanism 20 Rapid drying device 21 Transfer mechanism 22 Raw material tank 23 Supply pipe 24 Addition device 25 Adjustment valve 26 Additive tank

Claims

1. This method for producing a processed seaweed food is characterized in that seaweed dough, which has been papered on a seaweed mat, is rapidly dried to a moisture content of 7% or less, heated in oil, and then drained by applying hot air.

2. The method for producing a processed seaweed food according to claim 1, characterized in that the seaweed dough is rapidly dried by microwaves.

3. The method for producing a processed seaweed food according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a paper-making device for making seaweed dough on the seaweed mat and a drying device for drying the made seaweed dough with hot air are provided on the transport path of the seaweed mat, and the seaweed dough made by the paper-making device is dried in the drying device while the seaweed mat is being transported, thereby continuously producing dried seaweed, and in this process, the processed seaweed food is produced using the seaweed dough made by the paper-making device at a predetermined time immediately after the drying device is started or immediately after the drying conditions are changed.

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