Title: Acquaintance with different postharvest and food processing equipment and machinery used in postharvest technology of horticultural crops.

Postharvest machines/food processing equipment are used for handling and processing the fruits/vegetables/food materials in food factory. These machines are useful in various unit operations such as preparation of food slices/pulping, mixing, cooking, cooling, packaging and storage of different fruits/vegetables etc.
The main objective of this practical article is to make students familiarize about various food processing equipment.
Objectives:
- 1) To identify different food processing equipment and machinery used in post harvest technology laboratory.
- 2) To understand principles and methods to use these food processing equipment and machinery.
- Materials required:
- Food processing equipment and machinery used in Postharvest Technology laboratory for processing, packaging and quality analysis.
- Procedure:
- 1) Identify the food processing equipment and machinery, note down the typical feature about its shape, size, capacity etc.
- 2) Note down the principle of their functioning.
- 3) Learn how to use the food processing equipment and machinery.
Observe the equipment/machinery in laboratory and write principle of working and use.
OBSERVATIONS:
Sr No | Name of postharvest machinery and food processing equipment | Principle of functioning | Use of Equipment/Machinery |
1 | Vernier caliper | ||
2 | Fruit penetrometer | ||
3 | Hand Refractometer | ||
4 | Screw type juice extractor (Hand operated) | ||
5 | Screw type juice extractor (Power operated) | ||
6 | Fruit mill | ||
7 | Hydraulic press | ||
8 | Pulper | ||
9 | Tray dryer | ||
10 | Autoclave | ||
11 | Hot water bath | ||
12 | Oil expeller | ||
13 | Decorticator | ||
14 | Spectrophotometer | ||
15 | Soxhlet apparatus | ||
16 | Vacuum packaging machine |