This story was first published in Food & Drink Business April 2020.
Homestyle coating is an increasingly popular trend in convenience products. Traditionally it is a golden, flaky coating created by hand, which is notoriously difficult to produce on an industrial scale. However, the right equipment using an automated process makes it possible to create the perfect look and crunch of homestyle coating.
The right foundation
An accurate flour pre-dusting is key to a crispy bite. To get an attractive, crunchy product, it is vital to keep the flour condition consistent and get optimum coverage of the product. That may sound simple, but working with the fine particles of flour is a science of its own.
Maximise the pickup
Tempura batter is the ideal base for a flawless layer of coating and controls the pickup of breading. The challenge is to get optimum coverage of the product. Thebetter the batter coverage, the better the pickup, and the better the yield.
Get the authentic look
Homestyle’s textured look is formed as flour breading and batter fold into layers on the product’s surface. The best way to authentically create this effect is using a drum. When it rotates, the product drops from a height, creating a controlled mechanical force. This force and the length of time in the drum is essential to building the layers of coating and creating the flaky texture. Handling between coating and frying is also critical to ensure products do not stick together and the delicate layers of breading are preserved.
Talk to the experts
Many factors combine to create the perfect homestyle coating. Marel offers an integrated, full line solution that makes the most efficient use of ingredients and delivers consistent, high-quality homestyle coated products. At the heart of the solution is the RevoBreader, which guarantees the ultimate coverage and optimal handling ensuring the very best product every time.
