Development of measurement system for three-dimensional structure of ice crystals in frozen foods

摘要

Micro-Slicer Image Processing System (MSIPS) has been developed for measuring the three-dimensional (3-D) structure and distribution of ice crystals formed in frozen foods. The system has functions to reconstruct the 3-D image based on the image data of exposed cross sections obtained by multi-slicing of a frozen sample with the minimum thickness of 1 μm and to display the internal structure as well as an arbitrary cross section of the sample, choosing observation angles. The effects of freezing conditions on the morphology and distribution of ice crystals were demonstrated quantitatively from the observations of raw beef stained by fluorescent indicator. The 3-D image of the sample demonstrated that the growth of ice columns was restricted by the intrinsic structure of muscle fibers.