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Microwave Assisted Thawing of Model Frozen Foods Using Feed‐back Temperature Control and Surface Cooling
Author(s) -
VIRTANEN A.J.,
GOEDEKEN D.L.,
TONG C.H.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2621.1997.tb04388.x
Subject(s) - microwave heating , microwave , temperature control , environmental science , zoology , food science , biology , engineering , mechanical engineering , telecommunications
An apparatus was developed that combined microwave energy and cold air with different ambient temperatures to reduce thawing time and avoid run‐away heating during microwave assisted thawing. Effects of microwave power level, sample thickness and surface air temperature on thawing time were investigated. The microwave power was cycled on and off using two temperature control schemes to maintain a predetermined temperature gradient based on hot and cold points. Thawing time was reduced by as much as a factor of seven compared to convective thawing at ambient temperature when appropriate conditions were used.