Crackers Sprayed with Oil & Flavorings
Controlling the amount of moisture, oil, and flavoring in crackers is an important consideration for process operators to control production and quality. Not only can the product be out of specification, but it can also affect the taste, appearance, stability, weight, cost and shelf life. Testing the moisture, oil and flavoring levels will allow adjustments to be made so that manufacturer has the highest quality.
With the help of industry partners and more than 40 years of experience, MoistTech has developed one of our most accurate moisture sensors, the IR-3000 moisture sensor. It is ideally suited to measure the moisture, oil or flavorings on the crackers during the manufacturing process. The sensor is coated in a food grade Teflon with a polymeric viewing window enabling manufacturers to improve product quality without any contamination. The IR-3000 takes instant, accurate, non-contact measurements of moisture, temperature, oil, fat, sugar, seasonings, protein, and more. Uniformity of spray or oil deposition can be monitored and adjusted either manually or automatically.
Moisture sensors can be placed before and after baking. We recommend installing sensor(s) at the exit of the ovens, close to packaging, so that it will allow the food time to stabilize while cooling. By installing the MoistTech sensor later in the process, the amount of oil or flavorings on the crackers can be measured and controlled. The sensor should be installed several inches above the belt or screw conveyor so that a production worker can continuously monitor the process and can control the moisture and oil content either manually or automatically in the finished product. After an oil spray, it is important to install the sensor at an angle to cut down any reflectance from the oil coating.
If the cracker oil or flavoring sensor has to be installed close to the oven outlet where it will be susceptible to extreme heat conditions, it is necessary to cool the sensor with either air or water. Furthermore, if the sensor is located near an oil spray, it is necessary to clean the sensor’s optical window during regular routine cleaning.
MoistTech is very experienced with the requirements in the production of crackers and snack foods. Our sensor calibrations, measurement wavelengths, algorithms and sensor optical requirements are pre-set at the factory. Typical accuracy is about ±0.1% moisture. Typical analog range is 0-10% moisture. The outputs can be adjusted to optimize PLC or recording requirements.
Take a look at our other food moisture sensor applications.
Contact our customer service representatives for further information about your application and the best installation practices for your equipment.
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