Aseptic Processing of Sweetpotato Purees Using a Continuous Flow Microwave System

摘要

Sweetpotato purees (SPP) were aseptically processed using a continuous flow microwave system to obtain a shelf-stable product. The dielectric properties of SPP were measured, and the dielectric constant and loss factor were within the range of the published values for fruits and vegetables. Small-scale tests were conducted in a 5-kW microwave unit to determine changes in color and viscosity with different thermal treatments. The results of these tests showed that color values (L~*, a~*) and viscosity did not change significantly compared with the untreated control. Pilot-scale tests were then conducted in a 60-kW microwave unit where the product was heated to 135℃ and held at that temperature for 30 s. The pilot-scale test produced a shelf-stable product with no detectable microbial count during a 90-d storage period at room temperature. This is the 1st report of aseptically packaged vegetable puree processed by a continuous flow microwave heating system.