Lye peeling is an industrial process in which fruit or vegetables are briefly immersed in a heated food-grade caustic soda solution to loosen the skin, followed by thorough rinsing to remove all alkali residue before further processing.
In trade practice
Processing parameters including solution concentration, temperature and immersion time are controlled and logged for each batch, as variation affects both peel removal efficiency and product safety. After lye treatment, multiple rinse stages are mandatory to bring residual alkalinity within acceptable limits. QA teams verify pH of the rinse water and finished product. Lye peeling is not permitted under EU organic certification, so buyers sourcing organic product must confirm the peeling method used.
In a specification
A specification or processing agreement should state that lye peeling is the approved method and may require the supplier to document solution parameters and post-rinse pH readings as part of batch records.