Processes and systems for pasteurizing and sterilizing a plurality of articles in a microwave heating system are provided. In certain aspects, groups of articles may be passed by a microwave launcher in a first convey direction and a second, opposite convey direction, so that each group of articles passes the microwave launcher more than once. Processes and systems described herein are also configured to uniformly heat spaced apart groups of articles without disrupting the operation of the microwave generator or distribution system.

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Devices and methods for RF heating of food, using techniques which allow uniformity and/or controlled non-uniformity.

Devices and methods for RF heating of food, using techniques which allow uniformity and/or controlled non-uniformity.

A method and device to treat liquid to reduce the amount of microorganisms in the liquid to a preselected level and/or to mitigate the growth of microorganisms are disclosed. Utilizing the method or device, liquid product is sprayed into a cavity of a reactor using a nozzle that produces a flat spray to provide means for efficient heating and treatment of the liquid.

A method and device to treat liquid to reduce the amount of microorganisms in the liquid to a preselected level and/or to mitigate the growth of microorganisms are disclosed. Utilizing the method or device, liquid product is sprayed into a cavity of a reactor using a nozzle that produces a flat spray to provide means for efficient heating and treatment of the liquid.

A method of treating a meat-substance containing a bone structure. The bone marrow is coagulated with microwaves generated by a solid-state RF energy source. The microwave heating may be carried out prior to a heat treatment of the meat-substance and/or may be carried out after slaughtering and before the fresh slaughtered meat-substance is frozen.

A method of treating a meat-substance containing a bone structure. The bone marrow is coagulated with microwaves generated by a solid-state RF energy source. The microwave heating may be carried out prior to a heat treatment of the meat-substance and/or may be carried out after slaughtering and before the fresh slaughtered meat-substance is frozen.

A process for heating articles includes sequentially passing loaded carriers in a continuous manner through a first processing section and sequentially passing said plurality of loaded carriers in an incremental manner through a second processing section using an incremental convey segment. The incremental convey segment includes sequential carrier-receiving slots, each carrier-receiving slot configured to receive one of the loaded carriers. The incremental convey segment is further configured to be move incrementally at multiples of discrete intervals corresponding to the carrier-receiving slots. The process further includes sequentially passing the loaded carriers in a continuous manner through a third processing section and heating articles supported by the carriers with microwave energy in at least one of the processing sections, the heating of the articles occurring while the articles are at least partially submerged in a liquid bath and at an pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.