Scalding Tank

Scalding of slaughtered birds is the immersion of the bird in a tank of hot water to loosen the feathers so that they can be more easily removed.

The bird is immersed in 140–150°F water for about one minute. In most cases an open tank is used that can accommodate one to ten birds, with the water kept hot by a burner located at the bottom of the tank; in other cases, hot water from a boiler is used to maintain the desired temperature. In either configuration, a steady flow of water helps keep the tank cleaner. The water is changed and the tank cleaned once every shift or day. The major advantage of manual scalding is its low capital cost.