Is there any relatively simple technique for removing the small stones
from brown ('natural') sesame seeds. The difficulty is that these
stones tend to be the same size as the seeds and so cannot be sifted
out, nor do they sink when the seeds are put into water. We use the
brown sesame in making chocolate brownies and have been unable (here
in Johannesburg South Africa) to buy clean brown seeds and
consequently spend many hours manually inspecting the seeds, a few at
a time, to clear them of these stones. |
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
05 May 2004 14:08 PDT
gedaliah...
Are you saying that the stones are so lightweight that
they float on the surface of the water along with the
sesame seeds?
sublime1-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
05 May 2004 14:26 PDT
I'm with the sublime-1 on this...what's keeping the stone's from sinking?
Could be: (1) they're lightwieght, and simply float (2) they've picked
up some sesame oil which is helping keep them afloat, or (3) surface
tension is keeping them afloat, or (4) some sort of combination of the
above.
Knowing why they don't sink will help figure out a separation
solution. Have you done any experimentation with the separated stones
to see how they behave in water on their own?
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Clarification of Question by
gedaliah-ga
on
06 May 2004 10:15 PDT
On the one occasion when I tried to seperate them by putting a handful
of seeds (including, presumably, some stones) some things floated and
some things sunk, and most of what sunk were seeds. Given that, I saw
no way to use this method to seperate seeds from stones. As I said,
most of these stones are about the same size as the seeds and so
cannot be sifted out. Even if they were to sink, as long as many of
the seeds also sink, I can't see what to do along these lines.
Before we use the seeds we have to wash out the dirt and mud. This is
pretty easy. We just wash them until the water runs clean, then spread
them out in the sun to dry. But the stone don't wash out.
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Clarification of Question by
gedaliah-ga
on
11 May 2004 13:01 PDT
Further thoughts: I have been doing quite a bit of 'sorting' myself
recently. One problem is that there are relatively few stones -- not
more than six in a pound or so. But that's more than enough to cause
a serious problem if not removed. I would not be averse to using a
piece of equipment, even if it cost several hundred dollars (or more).
But I'd want it to be faily small and robust. And quiet.
I have also timed how long it takes the woman who bakes to clean
enough seeds for one batch of brownie cakes (six). More than 30
minutes! That'sabout a half a pound of cleaned seeds. This is slowing
down the whole baking procedure so much that it would make it
difficult meet demand for brownies were it to increase very much. I
would also be more than willing to pay more than $20 to get a
practical solution to this problem.
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Clarification of Question by
gedaliah-ga
on
11 May 2004 13:31 PDT
More: I've recently tried using the 'polished' -- white -- sesame
seeds, instead of the 'natural', brown, ones. The white sesame seeds,
for reasons unknown to me, or usually clean. It must be that however
they are polished -- have the brown skin removed -- also removes
stones. But it SEEMS to me that the white seeds do not taste like the
brown ones and give the brownies a taste I am not happy with. So I'm
not sure whether that option is available to me.
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Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
11 May 2004 16:39 PDT
gedaliah...
How do you identify the stones when you're sorting them out
of the seeds? If there is a slight color difference, you
might be able to use one of the optical sorters below:
Anzai Manufacturing, Japan:
http://www.anzai.co.jp/english/new_products/new_products.html
Cape sorting machines:
http://www.eltexgroup.com/Eltexfile/Cape/Product/Report.asp
I doubt they are inexpensive, but that's all I found.
Also, have you considered roasting the white seeds to see if
this brings back an acceptable flavor to the brownies?
sublime1-ga
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Clarification of Question by
gedaliah-ga
on
12 May 2004 13:53 PDT
There is a big difference in colour between the brown seeds and the
stones, but there are also many dark seeds -- about the same
(blackish) colour as the stones. Stones are distinguished by their
shape and (sometimes) size. ... Looked up these optical sorters and
they both mention sesame seeds as something these devices can be used
for. No prices found, but from the photos these machines could not
cost less than many thousands of dollars. Aside from the cost, these
machines are simply way out of whack with the nature of my home
industry. I am still not 100% certain about the effects of the
polished white seeds on flavour; they may still end up being able to
use them or at least mix them with the brown. I do know that the
brown seeds CAN be cleaned. Fifteen years ago, when I started making
brownies, I used to get them (here in Johannesburg); they were from
Belgium. But haven't seen them in many years. I'm sure that in the
States you can get clean natural sesame seeds. That might be an
avenue to search: find out where clean brown seeds (in the States --
assuming they are available) come from and how they are cleaned.
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Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
12 May 2004 15:13 PDT
gedaliah...
I've looked at some of the large suppliers for the US market,
and I expect that they use machinery even more expensive than
the ones I mentioned before. All of the following produce
*kosher* unhulled sesame seeds (I wonder if that would require
them to be stone-free?):
American Key Food Products
http://www.americankeyfood.com/
Griffith Laboratories
http://www.griffithlabs.com/
K. KALUSTYAN ORIENT EXPERT TRADING CORP
No website
Oh! I just found a whole list of companies, in the edible
seed segment of the industry, on a page from the Association
of Food Industries, Inc:
http://www.afius.org/afi/index.php?id=174#190
I'm not sure what the letters after the entries signify,
but maybe you'd have better luck with a new supplier?
sublime1-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
12 May 2004 17:02 PDT
A commenter below suggested putting the seed/stones in water and
stirring the mixture, which could cause the stones to separate from
the seeds due to different densities. Have you tried this? What
happens?
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