In the whole potato chip processing, blanching is a very important process, which has a direct impact on the quality of the finished product. So, how to control the temperature and time of potato chip blanching to ensure the quality of potato chips? This article will discuss this in detail.
Purpose of Blanching:
Blanching is the process of heating sliced potatoes in hot water or steam for a short period of time. Its main purposes include:
1. Inhibit enzyme activity
Potatoes are prone to enzymatic browning after slicing, which causes the surface to discolor and affects the appearance and quality. Blanching can effectively inactivate phenolic oxidase and maintain the color of potato chips.
2. Remove starch
Blanching can reduce the starch content on the surface of the slices and prevent the chips from sticking to each other during frying.
3. Regulate tissue structure
Blanching softens the potato cell wall, reduces the cracking caused by rapid evaporation of water during frying, and makes the fried potato chips more uniform and crispy.
Requirements for blanching temperature and time
1. Temperature control
The water temperature for blanching is usually controlled between 70℃-90℃, and the specific temperature depends on the potato variety and processing requirements.
Low-temperature blanching (70℃-75℃)
Suitable for color-sensitive potato chip processing, which can effectively maintain the original light yellow color of potatoes.
High-temperature blanching (80℃-90℃)
Accelerates enzyme inactivation and shortens blanching time, but may cause the slices to be too soft, so use with caution.
2. Time control
The blanching time is usually 2-5 minutes. If it is too long, it may affect the hardness of the slices, and if it is too short, it will be difficult to completely inactivate the enzyme.
Short blanching time (2-3 minutes)
Suitable for thin-cut potato chips, which can protect the texture and reduce water loss.
Long blanching time (4-5 minutes)
Suitable for thick-cut potato chips, which helps more even heating and starch removal.
Main equipment
In order to achieve precise control of blanching temperature and time in actual production, a blanching machine is usually used to complete this step. The machine can better control the blanching time and temperature to ensure the quality of the finished product.