Centrifugal Evaporation Aids Quest for Culinary Perfection

At the renowned Midsummer House Restaurant in Cambridge, UK the chefs have been experimenting with centrifugal evaporation, using the Genevac Rocket evaporator.

Using the centrifugal evaporation technique, Midsummer House chefs are taking large volumes of liquid and concentrating them down. These concentrates can be used to increase the depth of flavor of sauces or stocks or to create unique flavor combinations. Centrifugal evaporation is predominantly used in analytical laboratories, where the quality of the final product is absolutely vital – just as it is in the kitchen.

At Midsummer House, Head Chef Daniel Clifford’s cooking has a modern-focus which is underpinned by classical French technique. Top-quality ingredients, advanced technique and technical prowess add wow-factor to the menus. It is increasingly common to find scientific equipment in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants: liquid nitrogen, water baths, dehydration and freeze dryers enable modern chefs to experiment with taste and texture in ways that were previously impossible. But while technological theatre can make a meal into a show-stopper, the success of every dish ultimately depends on its flavors.

“We are still learning with the Rocket Evaporator and testing lots of products on it,” commented Chef Clifford. “It really is so much fun for our chefs to taste the clarity of ingredients and see how pure we can make the flavors.”

At Midsummer House the centrifugal evaporation technique is already used with a wide range of components, including a quail consommé (for ravioli), celery juice (incorporated into sorbet) and crab stock (to be made into crab butter). Centrifugal evaporation does not need high temperatures to work so in contrast to other methods, for example reducing a sauce down on the stove, the flavors are not affected. This is especially important with the subtle flavors like cucumber or beetroot.

But just as the Midsummer House is at the cutting edge of gastronomy, the Genevac Rocket has redefined centrifugal evaporation. Most evaporators are designed for use with small amounts of liquid, often just a few centiliters. Making enough concentrate for a single serving of sauce might take days. The Rocket, however, is able to rapidly transform liters of liquid into milliliters of concentrate. By using an innovative low-temperature steam system this can be achieved in just a few hours.

Chef Daniel Clifford concluded “We are always striving to better our techniques to offer the best food in the industry”. “There is no other evaporator that can achieve these goals. The Genevac Rocket is unique.”