STEAM PEELERS FOR FRUIT AND ROOT CROP PEELING

Enhance your food processing with Bigtem’s steam peelers, represented by VegTech Systems, engineered for peeling fruits like apples and tomatoes and root crops such as carrots and potatoes, with capacities from 4 to 18 tons per hour. These advanced machines ensure precise peeling, reducing waste (5-10% peel loss) while maintaining product quality for fresh, frozen, or processed markets. Constructed with food-grade stainless steel, our steam peelers offer durability, hygiene, and energy efficiency, making them perfect for small-to-industrial operations aiming for high yields and cost savings.

Detailed Peeling Process
The process begins with raw produce (e.g., carrots, potatoes, or apples) being loaded into the intake hopper, which regulates flow to prevent clogging. The produce enters a pressurized steam chamber where high-pressure steam (10-15 bar, 180-200°C) is applied for 4-10 seconds, rapidly heating the skin to loosen it without cooking the flesh. This brief exposure ensures minimal nutrient loss, critical for fruits like tomatoes. Next, the produce moves to a high-speed brushing or tumbling unit that mechanically removes the softened skin, achieving a smooth, clean surface. A gentle water rinse (adjustable pressure) clears any remaining peel or starch, particularly for potatoes, and the peeled product is inspected on an output conveyor for quality control before advancing to cutting, slicing, or packaging. This streamlined process, optimized for 4 to 18 tons/h, adapts to varying produce sizes and types, delivering consistent, high-quality results with maximum efficiency.

Equipment and Technical Specifications:  

• Intake Hopper: 4-18 tons/h, 2-5 kW, 10-30 m³ capacity.  
• Steam Peeler:  
  • 4 tons/h: 400 kg/h steam (10-15 bar, 180-200°C), 1.5 kW, 0.7 m³/h water at 4 bar, 40 L/min air at 88 bar.  
  • 18 tons/h: 1,800 kg/h steam (10-15 bar, 180-200°C), 3.5 kW, 2.5 m³/h water at 4 bar, 60 L/min air at 88 bar.
• Brushing/Washing Unit: 3-10 kW, 2-8 m³/h water at 4 bar.  
• Output Conveyor: 2-6 kW, 30-70 L/min air at 6 bar.
  Contact VegTech Systems to customize your steam peeler for efficient fruit and vegetable processing.