Optimal sterilization temperatures for conduction heating foods considering finite surface heat transfer coefficients

摘要

Optimal sterilization temperatures are defined as the processing temperatures which result in a minimum surface cook-value after achieving the desired degree of sterility. They were calculated as a function of product heating rate, surface heat transfer coefficient, initial food temperature, heating medium come-up-time, z-value for the quality factor and target Fo-value. Different one-dimensional heat transfer shapes were considered. Compared to the other variables, initial temperature and heating medium come-up-time had little influence on optimal processing temperature. Regression equations were developed relating optimal temperatures with all relevant variables.