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

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.