Surface pasteurization method

摘要

A method for processing a food product (P) involves transporting the food product (P) through a plurality of stations including a loading station (20), a pasteurization station (300), and a closing station (26). The surface of the food product is pasteurized by convectively transferring heat from the pasteurizing medium to the surface of the food product. Said closing station closes said food product in a package immediately after said pasteurization, with no processing steps between said pasteurization station and said closing station. Preferably, steam is condensed on the food product surface in dropwise condensation, and the onset of film condensation is retarded by removing condensate film from such surface.