Changes in Electrical Conductivity of Selected Vegetables During Multiple Thermal Treatments1

Electrical conductivity (σ) is the most important parameter in ohmic heating. Although data exist on its changes during ohmic heating, limited information is available about preheated foods. In this study, the conductivity changes of raw vegetable samples (potato, carrot, and yam) in cyclic ohmic heating and samples preheated by conventional heating prior to ohmic heating were investigated. In cyclic ohmic heating, cylindrical vegetable samples were subjected to three repeated cycles of ohmic heating (40 V/cm, 60Hz) to 80C, and cooling to 25C. Fresh samples were also preheated by conventional heating to 80C, then subjected to ohmic heating for comparison. Specific heats changed by cycles, although moisture content remained constant in all cases. The results show that in cyclic ohmic heating, the heating rate increased by cycles. Samples preheated by either conventional or ohmic heating showed a higher heating rate than raw materials. Electrical conductivity data during ohmic heating showed that preheated vegetables have higher conductivities than fresh ones, and a tendency of increase by cycles was found.