Aseptic filling method for making tofu
By separating soy milk and coagulant chambers with a peelable seal in a tofu container and using retort sterilization, the method addresses high-cost equipment issues in aseptic tofu production, enabling cost-effective, sterile tofu with a long shelf life.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NAGASAKA CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-29
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
AI Technical Summary
Conventional methods for producing aseptic tofu require expensive and complicated sterilization equipment, leading to high production costs.
A soy milk filling chamber and coagulant filling chamber are separated by a peelable isolation seal in a container, allowing mixing within the container without opening it, and the mixture is sterilized together with the container using a retort machine.
Aseptic tofu with a long shelf life can be produced at room temperature without specialized sterilization equipment, using common tofu manufacturing equipment and retort sterilization, maintaining sterility and reducing costs.
Smart Images
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Figure 0007896901000002
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a container for aseptically filled tofu and a method for producing aseptically filled tofu.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, tofu has been known as a food that allows easy intake of vegetable protein. Tofu is a processed food made by coagulating soy milk made from soybeans using a coagulant, but it is a food that has a short shelf life and requires careful freshness management. However, in recent years, products have been developed that have a long shelf life and can withstand room temperature distribution by filling sterilized raw materials into sterilized containers in a sterile environment.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for producing aseptically filled tofu that does not require complicated and expensive sterilization equipment.
[0005] In the conventional method for producing aseptic tofu in a sealed container as described in Patent Document 1, complicated and expensive equipment such as a sterile tank for storing sterilized and mixed soy milk and a coagulant, a sterilizer for the filling container, and a sterile chamber in the filling process into the container are required, resulting in high costs.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] <少なくとも The aseptically filled tofu container (product container body 1) of the present disclosure is characterized in that a soy milk filling chamber 3 and a coagulant filling chamber 5 are divided by a separation and sealing portion 6, and the separation and sealing portion 6 is opened without opening the product container body 1, and the filled soy milk and coagulant are mixed inside the product container 1.
[0007] In the method for producing aseptically filled tofu described herein, the soy milk and coagulant filled in the container are subjected to retort sterilization together with the container. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to produce sterile tofu with a long shelf life that can be distributed at room temperature without requiring any sterilization equipment other than a retort machine, nor without requiring a sterile chamber for filling raw materials, using conventional, very common tofu manufacturing equipment and widely available retort sterilization equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0009] [Figure 1] This is a conceptual diagram of a filled tofu container according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 2. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0010] <Filling container body (product container body 1)> The product container body 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a filling container for manufacturing sterile tofu according to claim 1 of the patent claims. It is manufactured from existing synthetic resin materials, paper, aluminum foil, etc., that have a certain degree of heat resistance, thermal conductivity, rigidity, flexibility, air barrier properties, light shielding properties, etc.
[0011] The soy milk filling port 2 and the coagulant filling port 4 are provided independently and separately, and the filled soy milk and coagulant are separated by an isolation sealing section 6 to prevent mixing. Therefore, the soy milk filled in the container will not coagulate even when sterilized by heating. Unlike other strong welded sealing sections, the isolation sealing section 6 has a heat-sealed structure that can be peeled open with a certain amount of pressure.
[0012] <Method for manufacturing packaged tofu> The method for producing aseptically filled tofu according to claim 2 of the present invention utilizes the product container body 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[0013] The soy milk filling port 2 and coagulant filling port 4 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are filled to capacity, then heat-sealed, and subsequently sterilized in a retort sterilizer with an F value of 4 or higher. This sterilizes the product container body 1, as well as the soy milk and coagulant.
[0014] After the sterilization process, the mixture is cooled to 20°C or below, preferably around 8°C, to avoid unintended coagulation reactions. After cooling, pressure is applied to the coagulant chamber 5 to increase the pressure inside the coagulant chamber, causing the isolation seal 6 to peel off and open, and the coagulant in the coagulant filling chamber 5 to be ejected into the soy milk filling chamber 3. At this time, the soy milk and coagulant are mixed without opening the product container body 1, so the sterile state inside the product container body 1 is maintained.
[0015] To ensure thorough mixing of the soy milk and coagulant, after peeling open the isolation seal 6, methods such as applying vibration using a rotating device like a concrete mixer can be considered.
[0016] Through the above process, the soy milk and coagulant, which were separated and filled in the container, are mixed, and aseptic filled tofu is produced through the same heating and coagulation process as regular filled tofu.
[0017] While the above examples have been described as specific embodiments for carrying out the invention, this disclosure is not limited to these examples and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims as indicated by them. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0018] 1. Product container body 2 Soy milk filling port (welded and sealed after filling) 3. Soy milk filling room 4. Coagulant filling port (sealed by welding after filling) 5. Coagulant filling chamber 6. Isolation and sealing section (isolation of soy milk chamber 3 and coagulant chamber 5)
Claims
[Claim 1] A method for producing aseptically filled tofu using a product container (1) characterized in that a soy milk filling chamber (3) and a coagulant filling chamber (5) are separated by an isolation sealing section (6), and the isolation sealing section (6) is opened without opening the main product container body (1), and the filled soy milk and coagulant are mixed inside the product container (1), The process involves filling the product container (1) with soy milk through the soy milk filling port (2) and simultaneously filling it with coagulant through the coagulant filling port (4) and sealing it. A process in which the soy milk and coagulant, which are separated and filled into the product container (1), are sterilized together with the product container (1) in a retort sterilizer with an F value of 4 or higher, A step of cooling the product container (1), The process involves opening the isolation seal (6) and mixing the separated and filled soy milk and coagulant in the product container (1), A step of heating the product container (1) to solidify it, A method for producing aseptically filled tofu, comprising the following elements in this order.