Microwave and Radio Frequency Processing of Animal-Related Food Products

Radio Frequency (RF) and Microwave (MW) has been applied in the food processing industry for various operations for decades. When used for heating they have significant advantages over conventional methods due to the volumetric manner in which they generate heat which leads to more rapid heating compared to conventional methods, particularly when it comes to solid foods, which in turn reduces the processing time significantly. This chapter provides fundamental information on applications of MW and RF heating in food processing, particularly in animal-based food products. It also presents some of the innovative strategies used to improve heating uniformity during MW and RF assisted processing. It will also provide an overview of current developments and challenges in the areas of MW and RF applications with particular reference to the production of high quality and safe food products.