FoodRD Contact

Direct Steam Injection

Steam can heat a liquid by entering it directly. A tube or plate heats it through a metal wall. The two methods heat the product differently.

Stainless vessel head, curved tube and sanitary fittings on the direct-steam-injection unit
Vessel head and sanitary connections on the steam-injection moduleAI restyled from the source photograph

How it works

Food-grade steam enters the flowing liquid directly. This changes how quickly the product heats compared with heating through a tube or plate.

Tests compare flow and temperature using samples taken the same way for both methods. The comparison also covers the water added as steam condenses and any cooling after heating.

Trial examples include dairy, soy drinks, and juices. The recipe and available utilities help determine the equipment setup.