Study on the technique of Chinese chestnut shelling with microwave

Chinese chestnut has a high nutritional and officinal value. The shelling of Chinese chestnuts become a problem when output increased.Through orthogonal experiments based on the microwave heating principle, a new method of Chinese chestnut shelling with microwave was determined, which not only can remove the shell quickly and efficiently but also maintain the kernel original color, flavor and nutrition at the most extent.The results indicated that the optimal processes of Chinese chestnut shelling with microwave when the microwave power 800 W were chestnut addition 300 g, the first batch of microwave time 25 s, cooling time 7min and the second batch of microwave time 15 s for the big size.In addition, the optimum shelling condition for the medium size were 250 g, 15s, 6min, 20 s as well as 250 g, 15s, 6min, 10 s for the small size.The optimal combination was verified afterwards, and the shelling rate all reached up to 80%, as well as the crushing and cooked rate was less than 15%.