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Abstract SCHIRACK, ANDRIANA VAIS. The Effect of Microwave ...

Abstract SCHIRACK, ANDRIANA VAIS. The Effect of Microwave ...

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moisture content, energy absorbed by the peanuts, internal and surface temperature<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>iles, and blanchability were evaluated in response to variations in processing<br />

parameters.<br />

MATERIALS AND METHODS<br />

Medium-grade size, runner-type peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L., variety<br />

Georgia Green) at an average moisture content <strong>of</strong> 7 % (wet basis) were obtained<br />

from a single harvested lot from USDA, ARS, National Peanut Research Laboratory<br />

(Dawson, Georgia). <strong>The</strong> peanuts were harvested, cured, shelled, sized, and stored<br />

according to normal practices prior to delivery to Raleigh, NC. A second lot <strong>of</strong><br />

peanuts at 11% moisture content were received from USDA, ARS, National Peanut<br />

Research Laboratory (Dawson, Georgia). <strong>The</strong> second lot was divided into 150<br />

pound samples which were dried to 5 %, 7 %, and 9 % moisture content with forced<br />

ambient air, and one lot was maintained at 11 % moisture content. All peanuts were<br />

bagged, placed in opaque tubs and stored in a cooler at 6 °C and 60 % relative<br />

humidity before use in experiments one week later. Before use, peanuts were<br />

tempered overnight to room temperature.<br />

Peanuts were heated using a 5 kW, 915 MHz microwave unit (Industrial<br />

<strong>Microwave</strong> Systems, Morrisville, NC) with a 2.74 m belt conveyor for sample<br />

delivery. <strong>The</strong> conveyor tunnel was equipped with an electric fan and heater, which<br />

was set to deliver 25 °C air into the system. <strong>The</strong> microwave generator was<br />

controlled by a data acquisition and control unit (HP34970A, Agilent, Palo Alto, CA).<br />

94

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