PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for drying instant noodles capable of producing excellent non-fry noodles free from binding between noodle lines, easy to be loosed and, uniformly recoverable, and capable of preventing the noodle lines from popping out of retainer during the drying process.SOLUTION: Provided is a method for drying instant noodles comprising a step of throwing in α-modified noodle lines into retainer and a step of blowing a high speed air flow from above the retainer such that the air velocity to which the noodle lines within the retainer are exposed is 60 m/s or more, characterized in that the high speed air flow is provided once at an air velocity, to which the noodle lines are exposed, of 50 m/s or less, followed by subsequently at the above-mentioned 60 m/s or more, to dry the noodle lines as if they are dancing in the retainer. Especially for the case of drying apparatus where the retainer is sequentially conveyed under the high speed air flow, it is preferred to weaken the entrance side air velocity and exposing the whole area of the opening of the retainer being conveyed to an air flow of the above-mentioned 50 m/s or less, followed by subsequently increasing the blowing air flow to an air velocity of the above-mentioned 60 m/s or more.COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT【課題】 本発明は、麺線同士の結着がなく、ほぐれやすく、均一に復元性できる優れたノンフライ麺を得ることを目的とし、その乾燥工程中に麺線がリテーナから飛び出さないようにする。【解決手段】 リテーナにα化処理した麺線を投入し、リテーナの上方からリテーナ内の麺線がさらされる風速が60m/s以上となるように、高速の気流を吹き付ける工程を含む即席麺の乾燥方法であって、前記高速の気流が、麺線のさらされる風速を一旦50m/s以下とした後に、引き続いて前記60m/s以上とすることで、リテーナ内で麺線が踊るようにして乾燥する。特に、リテーナが、前記高速の気流の下を順次搬送される乾燥装置の場合、入口側の風速を弱くして、当該搬送されるリテーナ開口部において、その全面が前記50m/s以下の気流に覆われた後に、引き続いて吹き付ける気流を前記60m/s以上に風速を上げるのがよい。【選択図】なし
