Methods and apparatuses for thermal treatment of foods and other biomaterials, and products obtained thereby

摘要

A process for thermally treating a flowable material while passing the flowable material, as a continuous stream, through a thermal treatment apparatus, is disclosed. The process includes: (a) passing a semi-solid flowable material continuously through a conduit, where at least a portion of the conduit is transparent to electromagnetic radiation; (b) heating the flowable material by exposing a portion of the conduit, transparent to electromagnetic radiation, to a source of electromagnetic radiation; and (c) mixing the flowable material within the conduit to provide for thermal equalization in the flowable material.