The cheese processing industry has to rely on clean equipment. Since cross-contamination of ingredients can affect the quality of the product, only effective cleaning mechanisms are used for sanitizing the equipment. In this article, we will discuss the ways in which cheese processing equipment is cleaned, and the end product can be protected.
Cleaning the soil
Hygiene has to be maintained in the dairy industry and particularly in the cheese industry. Cross-contamination can occur quickly during handling or touching. The environment of plants, improperly cleaned plants and equipment is commonly responsible for spoiling cheese.
Stainless steel mixing tanks are therefore used in the cheese processing industry. Cleaning the soil in the cheese industry is done using alkaline cleaners like soda ash, caustic, sodium bicarbonate, sodium metasilicate and trisodium phosphate. Stainless steel mixing tanks are cleaned using these alkaline cleaners. However, in the cheese industry, an efficient cleaning mechanism will have to be required.
Location of the cleaning
The cleaning location will depend on the type of cheese processing equipment. In-place cleaning systems like CIPs are suitable where the systems are large, and the components cannot be taken apart. Since CIP systems are automated, it reduces the efforts on the part of the user. It also reduces the efforts involved in disassembling the parts of the equipment.
Sanitizing components with blind holes, crevices, and hidden parts will require thorough cleaning. An immersion parts washer is highly suited for such components as hard-to-reach corners can be cleaned effectively.
Stainless steel mixing tanks used in the dairy industry and cheese vats used in cheese-making units have many components like tank heads, valves, agitators and gaskets that can be cleaned with its help.
Cleaning methods
The cleaning cycle should be longer for cheese processing equipment like cheese presses. This will ensure that the equipment is thoroughly cleaned. The length of the cleaning cycle in an immersion parts washer can be adjusted according to the requirements of a user. A detergent solution can be used to sanitize the components. Pumps can be installed to agitate the solution so that the cleaning is efficient. Removing the traces of detergents is required after the cleaning has been done. To do this, rinsing functionality can be added to the washer by customizing it.
Summary
The cheese industry requires its equipment to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent cross-contamination. Both CIP and COP systems are available, but the latter will be suitable for cheese processing equipment.
