Thawing device of frozen food material

Abstract

To provide a thawing method and a thawing device that can shorten a thawing time of a frozen food material and suppress quality degradation of the food material after thawed.SOLUTION: A thawing device 1 of a frozen food material 5 includes a bubble generator 3 that generates microbubbles 7 to a water tank 6 in which the frozen food material 5 is immersed and an electrical field generator 4 that charges microbubbles 7. The bubble generator 3 includes an aeration hose 31 which is a discharge port of the microbubbles 7. The aeration hose 31 is disposed on a lower side of the frozen food material 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for thawing frozen food.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, running water thawing is widely known as a method for thawing frozen food (for example, packed meat, fish, etc.). Also known is a foaming water immersion thawing method in which fine bubbles are generated in the stored water in which the frozen food is immersed for thawing (see Patent Document 1). According to this foaming water immersion thawing method, the fine bubbles mixed in the stored water disrupt the interface between the frozen food and the water, improving the overall heat transfer coefficient. Therefore, the thawing time of the frozen food can be shortened.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1 described above, the shortening of the thawing time was insufficient. Also, since drips are discharged from the frozen food during thawing, there is a risk that the quality of the food after thawing will deteriorate.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve such problems, and its object is to provide a thawing method and an apparatus that can further shorten the thawing time of frozen food and suppress a decrease in the quality of the food after thawing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to one feature of the present disclosure, the frozen food is thawed by mixing charged fine bubbles in the stored water in which the frozen food is immersed.

[0007] Therefore, due to the fine bubbles mixed in the stored water, the interface between the frozen food and the water is disturbed, and the overall heat transfer coefficient is improved. Furthermore, the charged fine bubbles come into contact with the frozen food. Therefore, since the frozen food also becomes charged, heat conduction is induced by the electrostatic force and the Coulomb force generated between the stored water and the frozen food. Accordingly, the thawing time of the frozen food can be further shortened. Also, it is possible to suppress the discharge of drips from the frozen food during thawing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the quality of the food after thawing.

[0008] According to another feature of the present disclosure, the thawing device for frozen food includes a bubble generator that generates fine bubbles in stored water in which the frozen food is immersed, and an electric field generator that charges the fine bubbles.

[0009] Therefore, due to the fine bubbles mixed (generated) in the stored water, the interface between the frozen food and the water is disturbed, and the overall heat transfer coefficient is improved. Furthermore, the charged fine bubbles come into contact with the frozen food. Therefore, since the frozen food also becomes charged, heat conduction is induced by the electrostatic force and the Coulomb force generated between the stored water and the frozen food. Accordingly, the thawing time of the frozen food can be further shortened. Also, it is possible to suppress the discharge of drips from the frozen food during thawing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the quality of the food after thawing.

[0010] According to another feature of the present disclosure, the bubble generator includes an aeration hose that serves as an outlet for the fine bubbles. The aeration hose is provided below the frozen food.

[0011] Therefore, the fine bubbles blown out from the aeration hose come into contact with (spread over) the entire surface of the frozen food. Accordingly, the entire surface of the frozen food can be thawed uniformly. That is, uneven thawing of the frozen food can be suppressed.

[0012] According to another feature of the present disclosure, the stored water is water stored in a container. The container includes an upper lid that opens and closes an opening provided in the upper part. The electric field generator operates by detecting a closed state of the opening.

[0013] Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of an electric field outside the container.

[0014] According to another feature of the present disclosure, the inner surface of the upper lid includes a shielding plate that shields the electric charges inside the container.

[0015] Therefore, it is possible to suppress the upper lid from being charged.

[0016] According to another feature of the present disclosure, the container includes a partition cage that holds a plurality of frozen food items in a vertical state at predetermined intervals.

[0017] Therefore, even for a plurality of frozen food items having a shape that is difficult to place vertically, such as a hamburger, minute bubbles come into contact with the entire surface thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to uniformly thaw the entire surface of a plurality of frozen food items having a shape that is difficult to place vertically.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2, a thawing device 1 according to an embodiment will be described. In the following description, up and down, front and back, and left and right refer to the directions shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the thawing device 1 includes a container 2, a bubble generator 3, and an electric field generator 4. Hereinafter, the container 2, the bubble generator 3, and the electric field generator 4 will be described individually.

[0020] First, the container 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the container 2 includes a rectangular container body 10 for storing water 6 in which the frozen food 5 is immersed, and an upper lid 20 for opening and closing the opening 11 at the upper part of the container body 10. The left side surface of the container body 10 is provided with a through hole 10a into which a connection pipe 35 described later can be inserted. The inner diameter of the through hole 10a is equal to (the same or slightly smaller than) the outer diameter of the connection pipe 35. Therefore, the connection pipe 35 can be inserted into the through hole 10a without a gap. The upper edge portion 12 of the container body 10 is provided with a rectangular frame member 13 so as to form a step 15.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a part of the left side of the frame member 13 is a cutout portion 14 that is cut out. The upper edge portion 12 of the container body 10 is provided with conductive members 16 and 18 (first conductive member 16, second conductive member 18) that are paired front and back at a portion corresponding to the cutout portion 14. The first conductive member 16 is connected to the first cable 17. The first cable 17 is connected to the electric field generator 4. Similarly, the second conductive member 18 is connected to the second cable 19. The second cable 19 is connected to the electric field generator 4.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the inner surface 21 of the upper lid 20 is provided with a protrusion 22 corresponding to the step 15 of the container body 10. Thereby, when covering the upper lid 20 so that the opening 11 of the container body 10 is closed, since the protrusion 22 corresponds to the step 15, it becomes easy to align the upper lid 20 with respect to the container body 10. The left side surface of the upper lid 20 is provided with a substantially L-shaped conductive member 23 that straddles this left side surface and the inner surface 21. When the upper lid 20 is covered so that the opening 11 of the container body 10 is closed, the conductive member 23 comes into electrical contact with the conductive members 16 and 18.

[0023] Therefore, the first cable 17 and the second cable 19 are in a conductive state. As a result, the conditions for operating the electric field generator 4 are satisfied. If this condition is not met, even if the operation switch of the electric field generator 4 is operated, the electric field generator 4 will not operate. This description corresponds to "the electric field generator operates by detecting the closed state of the opening" described in the claims. As shown in FIG. 2, when the upper lid 20 is removed so that the opening 11 of the container body 10 opens, the contact between the conductive member 23 and the conductive members 16 and 18 is eliminated.

[0024] Therefore, the conductive state of the first cable 17 and the second cable 19 is also eliminated. Thus, for example, even if the electric field generator 4 is operating, its operation stops. The inner surface 21 of the upper lid 20 is provided with a shielding plate 24 that shields the electric charges inside the container body 10. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the height position of the shielding plate 24 is set slightly higher than the height position of the partition cage 50 placed on the aeration hose 31 described later. The left and right side surfaces of the upper lid 20 are provided with concave-shaped handles 25.

[0025] Thereby, when covering or removing the upper lid 20, it becomes easier for an operator (not shown) to grasp the upper lid 20. Therefore, the workability when covering or removing the upper lid 20 can be improved. Note that the container 2 is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin having rigidity and is insulated from the ground.

[0026] Next, the bubble generator 3 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the bubble generator 3 includes a blower pump 30, an aeration hose 31, and a connecting pipe 32. The blower pump 30 is a known pump that sends air. The aeration hose 31 is a known flexible hose having innumerable fine holes on its surface. Five aeration hoses 31 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction so as to be submerged (positioned) across the bottom surface of the container body 10.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the connecting pipe 32 includes a first connecting pipe 33, a second connecting pipe 34, and a connecting pipe 35. The blower pump 30 and the first connecting pipe 33 can be connected. The aeration hose 31 and the second connecting pipe 34 can be connected. The first connecting pipe 33 and the second connecting pipe 34 can be connected by the connecting pipe 35. When these are connected and the blower pump 30 is operated, air is blown out from innumerable fine holes of the aeration hose 31.

[0028] Therefore, when the aeration hose 31 is submerged in the bottom surface of the container body 10 storing the water storage 6, fine bubbles 7 are blown out from innumerable fine holes of the aeration hose 31. Note that a partition cage 50 can be placed on the aeration hose 31 submerged in the bottom surface of the container body 10. The partition cage 50 is a cage having a plurality of partition walls 51 that hold a plurality of frozen foods 5 in a vertically placed state at a predetermined interval.

[0029] Next, the electric field generator 4 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the electric field generator 4 includes an electric field generator body 40, a cable 41, and a conductive hook 42 that acts as an electrode. Therefore, the electric field generator body 40 and the hook 42 are electrically connected via the cable 41. The hook 42 can be hooked on the partition cage 50. The electric field generator body 40 is a known one that generates an electric field from the hook 42 into the container body 10. The strength of the generated electric field is, for example, 1500 to 1600 V / M.

[0030] Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the procedure for assembling the thawing device 1 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation of placing the container body 10, the blower pump 30, and the electric field generator body 40 at predetermined positions is performed. Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, an operation of placing the aeration hose 31 on the bottom surface of the container body 10 is performed. Next, an operation of connecting the blower pump 30 and the aeration hose 31 by the connecting pipe 32 is performed.

[0031] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, the operation of connecting the blower pump 30 and the first connecting pipe 33 is performed. The operation of connecting the aeration hose 31 and the second connecting pipe 34 is performed. The connecting pipe 35 is inserted into the through hole 10a of the container body 10, and the first connecting pipe 33 and the second connecting pipe 34 are connected by the inserted connecting pipe 35. Next, the operation of placing the partition cage 50 on the aeration hose 31 is performed.

[0032] Next, the operation of hooking the hook 42 of the electric field generator 4 on the partition cage 50 is performed. Next, the operation of storing water 6 in the container body 10 is performed. The water used for storing water 6 may be, for example, tap water. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the water storage 6 is carried out to a height position where the frozen food 5 is sufficiently immersed. The frozen food 5 is, for example, packed meat, fish, etc. Therefore, even if the frozen food 5 is immersed in the stored water 6, the food ingredients such as meat and fish do not directly contact the water.

[0033] Finally, the operation of covering the upper lid 20 so as to close the opening 11 of the container body 10 is performed. At that time, the cable 41 of the electric field generator main body 40 is passed through the handle 25 of the covered upper lid 20 (see FIG. 1). Thereby, the upper lid 20 can be covered without the cable 41 interfering. By covering the upper lid 20, the first cable 17 and the second cable 19 are brought into a conductive state. In this way, the thawing device 1 is assembled.

[0034] Finally, the procedure (thawing method) for thawing the frozen food 5 by the thawing device 1 will be described. First, the operation of removing the upper lid 20 so as to open the opening 11 of the container body 10 is performed. Next, for example, three frozen foods 5 are placed vertically along the partition wall 51 of the partition cage 50. Next, the operation of covering the upper lid 20 so as to close the opening 11 of the container body 10 is performed. Next, the operation of operating the operation switch (not shown) of the blower pump 30 of the bubble generator 3 is performed.

[0035] Then, fine bubbles 7 are blown out from innumerable fine pores of the aeration hose 31. The blown-out fine bubbles 7 are mixed in the stored water 6 and rise inside. Therefore, due to the rising fine bubbles 7, the interface between the frozen food 5 and the stored water 6 is disturbed, and the overall heat transfer coefficient is improved. Next, an operation of operating an operation switch (not shown) of the electric field generator main body 40 of the electric field generator 4 is performed. Then, an electric field is generated inside the container main body 10. As a result, the fine bubbles 7 are charged.

[0036] Therefore, the charged fine bubbles 7 come into contact with the frozen food 5. Accordingly, since the frozen food 5 is also charged, heat conduction is induced by the electrostatic force and the Coulomb force generated between the stored water 6 and the frozen food 5. Since the frozen food 5 is thawed in such a state, the thawing time of the frozen food 5 can be further shortened. For example, the thawing time that used to take about 2 hours can be shortened to about 15 minutes. In addition, the discharge of drip from the frozen food 5 during thawing can be suppressed. Therefore, a decrease in the quality of the food after thawing can be suppressed.

[0037] When the fine bubbles 7 rise inside the stored water 6, the rising fine bubbles 7 come into contact with the frozen food 5. Then, the fine bubbles 7 that have come into contact with the frozen food 5 move radially outward inside the stored water 6. Therefore, inside the stored water 6, in a plan view, a water flow is generated from the center radially outward. Therefore, even if a water flow is not actively generated by an external device or the like, a water flow can be generated in the stored water 6 of the container main body 10. Therefore, the frozen food 5 can be thawed efficiently.

[0038] As described above, according to the thawing device 1 described above, the bubble generator 3 includes an aeration hose 31 that serves as an outlet for the fine bubbles 7. The aeration hose 31 is provided below the frozen food 5. Therefore, the fine bubbles 7 blown out from the aeration hose 31 come into contact with (spread over) the entire surface of the frozen food 5. Therefore, the entire surface of the frozen food 5 can be thawed uniformly. That is, uneven thawing of the frozen food 5 can be suppressed.

[0039] Further, according to this thawing device 1, the stored water 6 is water stored in the container body 10. The container 2 includes an upper lid 20 that opens and closes an opening 11 provided at the upper part of the container body 10. The electric field generator 4 operates by detecting the closed state of the opening 11. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of an electric field outside the container 2.

[0040] Further, according to this thawing device 1, the inner surface 21 of the upper lid 20 includes a shielding plate 24 that shields the electric charge inside the container body 10. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the upper lid 20 from being charged.

[0041] Further, according to this thawing device 1, the container 2 includes a partition cage 50 that holds a plurality of frozen foodstuffs 5 in a vertically placed state at predetermined intervals. Therefore, for example, even if there are a plurality of frozen foodstuffs 5 having a shape that is difficult to place vertically, such as hamburgers, the fine bubbles 7 come into contact with the entire surface thereof. Accordingly, the entire surface of the plurality of frozen foodstuffs 5 having a shape that is difficult to place vertically can be uniformly thawed.

[0042] The above-described content relates only to one embodiment of the present invention and does not mean that the present invention is limited to the above content. The numerical values disclosed in the above embodiment are merely examples and are not limited thereto.

[0043] In the embodiment, the thawing device 1 has been described in a form including the container 2. Alternatively, the container 2 may be diverted from a sink in a kitchen or the like.

[0044] Further, a terminal block may be provided on the container body 10 of the container 2 in the embodiment to connect the bubble generator 3 and the electric field generator 4, which are external devices, there (modification example). One form of this modification example will be described. The side wall of the container body 10 has a double structure of an inner wall (the wall on the inner surface side) and an outer wall (the wall on the outer surface side). A heat insulating material is provided between the inner wall and the outer wall. Thereby, the influence of the outside air can be suppressed.

[0045] The container body 10 is provided with a convex portion (e.g., a bolt) made of a metal that protrudes from the inner surface of the side wall and has conductivity to act as an electrode. The base end of the convex portion is embedded in the side wall of the container body 10. The tip of the convex portion is exposed (protrudes) inward from the inner wall of the container body 10. That is, the convex portion is immersed in the stored water 6. The terminal block includes, for example, a first male connector, a second male connector, and a male coupler. The first male connector can be connected to a first female connector connected to the tip of the cable 41 (in this case, the hook 42 is unnecessary). The second male connector can be connected to a second female connector connected to the tips of the first cable 17 and the second cable 19. The male coupler can be connected to a female coupler connected to the tip of the first connecting pipe 33.

[0046] The first male connector is electrically connected to the base end of the convex portion by a cable or the like. The cable is passed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the side wall of the container body 10. The second male connector is electrically connected to the first conductive member 16 and the second conductive member 18 by a cable or the like. The cable is passed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the side wall of the container body 10. The male coupler is connected to the aeration hose 31 via the second connecting pipe 34. The second connecting pipe 34 is passed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the side wall of the container body 10. When the first male connector and the first female connector are connected, the second male connector and the second female connector are connected, and the male coupler and the female coupler are connected, the thawing device 1 operates in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. According to this modification, the connection between the container 2 and the external devices, i.e., the bubble generator 3 and the electric field generator 4, can be easily implemented.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 1 Thawing device 2 Container 3 Bubble generator 4 Electric field generator 5 Frozen food 6 Stored water 7 Fine bubbles 11 Opening 20 Upper lid 21 Inner surface 24 Shielding plate 31 Aeration hose 50 Partition cage

Claims

1. A method for thawing frozen food, comprising: A method for thawing frozen food, in which charged fine bubbles are mixed in the stored water in which the frozen food is immersed.

2. A thawing device for frozen food, comprising: A bubble generator that generates fine bubbles in the stored water in which the frozen food is immersed; and An electric field generator that charges the fine bubbles.

3. The thawing device for frozen food according to Claim 2, wherein: The bubble generator includes an aeration hose that serves as an outlet for the fine bubbles; and The aeration hose is provided below the frozen food.

4. The thawing device for frozen food according to Claim 3, wherein: The stored water is water stored in a container; The container includes an upper lid that opens and closes an opening provided in the upper part; and The electric field generator operates by detecting a closed state of the opening.

5. The thawing device for frozen food according to Claim 4, wherein: The inner surface of the upper lid includes a shielding plate that shields the electric charge inside the container.

6. The thawing device for frozen food according to Claim 5, wherein: The container includes a partition cage that holds a plurality of the frozen foods in a vertically placed state at a predetermined interval.

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