The objectives of this research were to construct a jar oven for the production of roasted chicken using heat from far-infrared radiation and to find the amount of electricity and specific energy consumption used in the production of roasted chicken. The physical properties in terms of color softness cooking yield and water holding capacity of roasted chicken were also investigated. By using far-infrared radiation at electrical power levels of 1000 1200 and 1400 watts to roast marinated chicken which had an initial mass of about 1650 grams until the mass of the roasted chicken had a lower than 1220 grams. From the experimental results it was found that the production of roasted chicken at far- infrared radiation with a high electrical power level requires significantly less electricity and specific energy consumption than that with low electrical power level (P≤0.05). Roasted chicken breasts with far-infrared radiation at 1400 watts had significantly higher lightness (L value) but lower redness (a value) and yellowness (b value) than those of 1000 watts (P≤0.05). However lightness (L value) yellowness (b value) and redness (a value) of the roasted chicken breast with far-infrared radiation at 1200 watts were not significantly different from those at 1000 and 1400 watts (P>0.05). The shear force and water holding capacity of roasted chicken were significantly increased when the electrical power levels of far-infrared radiation increased (P≤0.05). Moreover the electrical power levels of far-infrared radiation (1000 1200 and 1400 watts) did not significantly affect the cooking yield of roasted chicken (P>0.05).Sponso

The objectives of this research were to study the effect of hot air velocity on the changes of the moisture content and temperature of preserved tomatoes undergoing combined conveyor system and hot air drying. Specific energy consumption physical properties in term of color and shrinkage and sensory evaluation of dried preserved tomatoes were also investigated. The preserved cherry tomatoes were dried at a drying temperature of 80oc and hot air velocity of 2 and 4 m/s until the moisture contents of the preserved tomatoes were lower than 18% wet basis. The experimental results showed that the hot air velocity had effect on the changes of the moisture content and temperature of preserved tomatoes. Specific energy consumption total color difference shrinkage percentage and sensory evaluation results of dried preserved tomatoes of the hot air velocity of 2 and 4 m/s were not significantly different (P>0.05).Moreover the dried preserved tomatoes obtained from this research had significantly lower sensory scores in term of color and appearance than those obtained from the local market (P≤0.05). However sensory scores in term of flavor texture and overall preference of the dried preserved tomatoes obtained from this research and the local market were not significantly different (P>0.05).

The objectives of this research were to determine the suitable times of pork slices drying using microwave followed by hot air and to find specific energy consumption during drying. The physical characteristic (color and hardness) and the sensory test of dried pork slices were also investigated. Pork slices with the sizes of 50x50x1.3 and 50x50x2.2 millimeters were dried using the microwave at the powers of 160 320 480 640 and 800 watts until the samples did not burn during drying. Then the samples were dried using hot air at a temperature of 110oC until the moistures of the samples were lower than 20% dry basis. Based on the experimental results it was found that the suitable times of the samples drying using microwave were 50-600 seconds which depended on the microwave powers and the pork thicknesses. In hot air drying period drying times of the samples with thicknesses of 1.3 and 2.2 millimeters were 30 and 45 minutes respectively. The microwave powers had no significant effect on the redness (a value) and yellowness (b value) of dried pork the hardness of dried pork and the specific energy consumption (P<0.05). The pork thicknesses had the significant effect on the lightness (L value) and yellowness (b value) of dried pork the hardness of dried pork and the specific energy consumption (P<0.05). Moreover sensory scores of the dried pork obtained from this research were close to those obtained from the local market.

This research aims to study the effect of drying temperature on the changes in the moisture content of charcoal briquettes undergoing drying of solar energy and far-infrared radiation (Solar+FIR) and far-infrared radiation (FIR). The electricity consumption and the specific energy consumption were also investigated. The coconut shell charcoal briquettes with the initial moisture content of about 41-43% MW were dried at 55 60 and 65oC until the final moisture content of 8% MW was obtained. Based on the experimental results it was found that the drying temperatures and the drying methods had effects on the changes in the moisture content of charcoal briquettes. Drying at high temperature could reduce the moisture content of charcoal briquettes faster than that at low temperature. Drying using FIR could reduce the moisture content of charcoal briquettes faster than that using Solar+FIR. Moreover the electricity consumption and the specific energy consumption decreased with an increase in the drying temperature. Drying using Solar+FIR had lower electricity consumption but had higher specific energy consumption than drying using FIR. In this study the charcoal briquettes had the average heating value of about 6667.05 cal/g.

Superheated steam drying has gained more attention due to its absence of oxidative reactions and high drying rate. This research involved drying of ground fish slices using superheated steam. The influences of superheated steam temperature (120 130 and 140 ?C) and thickness of ground fish slices (1.3 and 2.2 mm) on drying kinetics and quality attributes of dried fish slices were studied. Effective moisture diffusion coefficients (Deff) of the ground fish slices dried at different conditions were also investigated. From the experimental results it was seen that an increase in drying temperature and a decrease in thickness of ground fish slices led to faster moisture reduction. In terms of qualities it was found that the lightness value (L-value) decreased. However the redness value (a-value) percentage of shrinkage hardness and toughness values increased when the thickness of ground fish slices and superheated steam temperature increased. Moreover it was also found that the Deff of the ground fish slices increased with the increase of superheated steam temperature and thickness of ground fish slice.