It is often necessary to hold batches in the cooking kettles for some time after the cooking is finished. This darkens the pulp some, both because of contact with the air, while hot, and from long contact with the sides of the kettle or coil, which remain hot. Cooked pulp should therefore be discharged from the kettle just as soon as possible. If held over 30 minutes in the kettle it should be given a momentary boil before letting it down. Be careful to avoid contamination in the kettle after the steam is shut off, such as cold dirty water dripping in from rafters overhead, and leaks from pipes over the kettles through which cold tomato juice is flowing. Such material will not become sterilized merely by contact with the hot pulp, and may cause swells in the canned product if there is very much of it. CHAPTER V CONVEYING THE CONDENSED, STRAINED, OR CRUSHED TOMATOES TO THE FINISHING MACHINE AND FINISHING SAME Conveying to Finisher The fewer pipes and receiving tanks the condensed pulp passes through before being filled in the cans, the better. All of this conveying and finishing equipment offers possibilities of contamination, and allows the cooked pulp to cool to some extent before it is filled. Eliminate as much equipment as possible between the cooking kettle and the filler, and have the pulp enter the cans at at least 170 degrees F., and if possible, at 180 degrees or above. A receiving tank between the cooking kettles and the filler should be dispensed with if possible, and the finishing machine draw the cooked pulp direct from the kettle by means of a short line of enamel lined pipe. Receiving Tanks Unfortunately the arrangement of many plants is such that it is almost necessary to use a receiving tank; at least in such cases it would be a disadvantage not to have one. Where a tank must be used here it should be in such a position that it is easily accessible, so that it will not be necessary for a man to be an acrobat to get into it, inspect it, and see that it is kept clean, and that an inch of pulp is not allowed to lie in it and get cold while waiting for another batch to come down.