What is the Role of Size Reduction in Food Processing

If you’ve ever thought about food processing, you’ve probably considered food size reduction equipment. While it doesn’t get nearly as much recognition as it deserves, food size reduction equipment plays a critical role in food processing of all kinds. By grinding, pulverizing, and modifying food and other materials, size reduction equipment makes it possible for companies to process food and produce finished products.  Here’s what you need to know:

What is Food Size Reduction Equipment?

Processed fruit beverage Size reduction equipment comes in all shapes and sizes. There are choppers, grinders, screw-fed mills, and disintegrators all designed to suit different needs and objectives. Here are a few of the most common types of size reduction equipment: Each type of machine serves a different purpose and processes particular kinds of whole foods more effectively than others. Common in commercial kitchens, production facilities, hospitals, and more, size reduction equipment plays a variety of roles many of us have never considered.

The Role of Size Reduction Equipment in Nutrient Absorption

One thing many people don’t think of when it comes to food size reduction equipment is how making food smaller improves nutrient absorption of food. When you consume food, you aren’t technically absorbing the nutrients until they’re taken into your GI tract. This means that the way we deliver food to our GI tracts matters. If you’ve ever heard that you should chew each bite of food 32 times before you swallow it, you’ll have some background in this. While chewing 32 times might seem excessive, it serves an essential purpose: for your stomach to absorb your food correctly, the food must be thoroughly disintegrated by your teeth and steeped in saliva. Sound appetizing? That combination makes nutrients more readily available for your body.  If you’re not interested in excessive mastication, there’s another way: food size reduction. When food is reduced in size before it passes your lips, it’s much easier for your body to enact the processes it needs to undertake in order to digest the food. Small particles of fruits and veggies, for example, are easier to break down than huge chunks. Meanwhile, certain types of food, like wheatgrass and barley, are virtually impossible to digest until their tough cellulose outer layers have been broken down by size reduction equipment – either through grinding or juicing. 

From Whole Foods to Finished Products

Whole foods are a great way to ship and put things on grocery shelves. Unfortunately, they’re not a great way to support people making recipes. For that, you need processed foods.  Smoothies are a great example. Smoothies take whole foods (whole fruits, vegetables, and grains, for example), reduce them to different forms, combine them into another way, and make them something people want to consume. Baby food and soup are two additional examples. Food processing makes food easier to consume, easier to absorb on a nutritional level, and easier to prepare. Hospitals, meanwhile, use food reduction to equipment to grind up materials to feed people through feeding tubes. 

Processed Food is Becoming Less Processed

Today, people want to particulate in their food and food production. While the U.S. as a whole is consuming more processed foods, consumers are also looking for processed foods that feel decidedly less processed. Take particulates in juice, for example. Unheard of eleven twenty years ago, sediment-filled extracts indicate quality and health today.  While the goal of food production used to be a homogeneous product, that objective has since shifted. Today, people want high-quality products that look and feel homemade. It’s food processing differently, and it’s changing the way manufacturers approach food size reduction.  To access efficient, effective food size reduction, having the right equipment is critical. Here at Corenco, we specialize in producing high-quality, reliable food size reduction equipment you can count on. To find your perfect match today, contact our team or browse our selection. Green extracted juiceCompanies that create fruit or vegetable juices need liquid extraction equipment. Liquid extraction equipment recovers valuable soluble compounds from raw materials and makes it possible for these components to be separated and recovered from the liquid. This critical equipment is popular in many applications outside the juice sector, including the following:  For companies that purchase this liquid extraction equipment, there are many significant considerations to take into mind. One of the largest is how long these machines will last, and what a company will need to do to maintain the equipment in the long-term.  Here’s what you need to know about the lifespan of liquid extraction equipment and what can extend or limit it. 

How Long Liquid Extraction Grinders Last

As is true for all types of extraction equipment, the application has a significant impact on lifespan, maintenance, and potential repairs. No matter what, though, grinders are meant to last for quite some time. Some Corenco grinders throughout the country are at least 35-40 years old, for example.  With proper maintenance, a company should get well over twenty years of use from their machinery. While maintenance is minimal, longevity depends on the regular replacement of wear parts, like rotors and screens. 

3 Ways to Extend the Lifespan of Extraction Equipment

Cars last longer with proper maintenance. Liquid extraction equipment is no different. Especially under heavy use, this machinery will last much longer with the appropriate care and attention. Here are a few things that can extend the lifespan of liquid extraction equipment:

1. Close Attention to Yield

Extraction equipment is durable and designed to work hard. Because of this, it doesn’t require a considerable amount of routine maintenance. It does, however, need to operate within the scope it was built for.  The most significant prediction factor for how long size reduction equipment will last is its application. If it’s working to process the materials it was made to process, and the yields fall within range, it will last far longer than it otherwise would. When a company starts pushing size reduction equipment to boost yield or to process materials that it is not designed for, that will reduce the lifespan of the equipment.

2. Proper Maintenance

Again, the maintenance associated with grinders is minimal. Screens, for example, last around 400 working hours and rotors last upwards of 2,000 working hours. If you’re processing soft fruits and vegetables, the above numbers are very accurate lifespan estimations.  If you’re processing hard materials like obsidian, however, the lifespan of these pieces will decrease. If you want to extend the life of your grinder, one of the best things you can do is to replace wear parts regularly. For best results, consult with the manufacturer of your equipment. They’ll be able to provide a recommendation tailored to your use and applications. 

3. Proper Application

Size, capacity, screen size, and application are all critical considerations for the lifespan of liquid extraction equipment and grinders. Many times, people will try to size their equipment and select their screens, assuming they need the finest grind possible.  This does two negative things, though. First, it makes grinding difficult and inefficient and requires more time. Second, it puts undue stress on the machine and its components, potentially decreasing its lifespan in the long run.  If you grind material twice, you can support your machine by using two different screens.No matter what you’re grinding, keeping your machine operating within its application field is a great way to extend its lifespan. 

Finding the Right Liquid Extraction Equipment for You

When you invest in liquid extraction equipment, you want to ensure you’re choosing the machine that’s right for you.  While understanding your application and yield goals will serve you well, it’s also critical to speak with a skilled representative who will help you find the right fit for your company. Corenco is here to walk you through the selection process and ensure you’re getting the product that’s correct for you. Contact us today to learn more.

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