The Mixer Cooker is an important equipment solution for achieving homogeneous batch consistency and efficient large-scale cooking. In the video example, the Thermal Screw Mixer Cooker demonstrates indirect cooking technology using hot water.
Heat Jacket
Hot water circulates in the jacket and transfers heat to the product in the Mixer Cooker. The jacket is designed to prevent heat loss and maintain a uniform and consistent temperature. Some processors choose hot water indirect steam to maximize energy efficiency.
Thermal Screw
The Thermal Screw ensures gentle blending, which fits applications with many particulates. It maximizes the contact between the food product and the heat source in the screw. Applications with thick and dense products utilize a dual screw configuration, the single thermal screw configuration is often used for sauces, soup bases, and less viscous products.
Steam Injection
Direct steam is utilized on recipes that can accept added moisture. Increasing cooking efficiency, direct steam in this (video) application was used only for certain recipes.
Applications
The application will define whether a Mixer Cooker is the best solution. If the product needs to be scraped to prevent burn-on, a ThermaBlend is recommended since it is designed with a “wrap-around” jacket. Also, if you have multiple processes such as cooking and cooling in the same unit, the ThermaBlend is engineered for the safe performance for drastic temperature changes.
Applications for the highly-customizable Mixer Cooker includes:
– Batch cooking and mixing of fresh or frozen proteins, grains, vegetables, and liquids.
– Addition of controlled steam cooking for recipes that allow moisture such as starchy foods.
– Consistent sauces, soups, and gravies to maintain product integrity.
– Pastes and spreads to achieve uniform flavor and texture.
– Processing pet food, ensuring proper blend, consistency, and nutritional inputs.
Customization
– Custom gasketed cover
– Reversible agitators
– Variable speed control
– Serpentine liquid jacket
– Multistep control packages
– Storage and data acquisition
– HMI (Human Machine Interface)
– Safety guarding and locking mechanisms
– Steam injection (DSI)
– Pneumatic discharge doors, valves, pumps
– CIP (Clean in Place) assist/spray balls
– Electropolished food contact surfaces
– Multi-step control packages with recipe controls
Mepaco’s Mixer Cookers are an example of application ingenuity and are currently used in food processing plants across the United States. To learn more, contact sales and consult with Mepaco’s application team.
