Spinach processing

Although the superhuman strength related to spinach consumption, as expressed by the cartoon figure Popeye, is no doubt exaggerated, this delicate vegetable does for sure have a high nutritional value. In order to preserve this, gentle and efficient processing is essential.

Cabinplant can provide complete solutions for the processing of spinach and molokhia. Capacities range from 1 to approx. 12 t/h.

A typical line consists of the following:

• Accumulation and infeed of raw material
• Separation of leaves to create a better product flow to the line. The infeed conveyor is equipped with a rotating rake.
• Weighing to create even infeed to the line
• Removal of loose and dry sand to reduce stress on the washing system
• Manual inspection to remove large foreign elements
• Washing, first stage, to remove most of the dirt
• Draining of washing water to prevent it from being mixed with the more clean washing water in the second stage washing
• Washing, second stage 
• Infeed to blancher and draining of water. The water is recirculated.
• Blanching 
• Dewatering 
• Homogenizing of product and packing into bags of approx. 400 g by means of a screw dosing pump and piston fillers 
• Sealing of bags
• Metal detection
• Freezing and packing into master cartons

An alternative to the homogenized product is IQF leaves:

• After blanching, the water is drained off using a centrifuge.
• Leaves are conveyed to freezer and distributed on freezer belt. The leaves are separated during freezing to prevent formation of large lumps. 
• Weighing by batch weighing or multihead weighing and packing into bags.

Link to machines:

Bulk feeder, batch weigher, washing and separation drum, inspection conveyor, paddle washer, blancher, press conveyor, piston filler, multihead weigher, packing line for bags