TREATMENT OF SOYBEAN

PURPOSE:To obtain swell-modified soybeans suitable as a raw material for soy sauce, by regulating the water content of a mixture of ground circular soybeans and defatting-processed soybeans followed by heating and then releasing under reduced pressure to carry out swelling treatment. CONSTITUTION:A mixture of circular soybeans ground to ca. 8-12mesh and defatting-processed soybeans in the weight ratio 80-40/20-60 is incorporated with water to regulate the water content so as to be 50-60wt.%. Thence, a raw material consisting of the resultant mixture is pressurized and heated under a pressure of 4-8kg/cm .G for 20-180sec. in a pressure kettle. The resultant material is rapidly released under reduced pressure (e.g., atmospheric pressure) to carry out swelling treatment, thus obtaining the objective swell-modified soybeans. According to the above-mentioned process, circular soybeans and defatting-processed soybeans can be simultaneously and continuously treated; also the pressurizing and heating treatment can be made similarly to those in the case of a single raw material. Furthermore, the dipping process for the circular soybeans can be omitted, therefore, effecting freedom from effluent production and industrial advantage.