Moisture migration in solid food matrices

The goals of this study were to measure moisture migration in a porous solid matrix simulating a real food (flour dough) and to accomplish heating of the solid matrix. An off-line technique and a microwave temperature controller system were developed for measuring moisture concentration under isothermal heating condition. A temperature profile of a cylindrical dough sample was achieved by accurate control of microwave energy input and preheated carrier gas temperature. Results showed a simplified 1st order kinetic model adequately predicted moisture loss in dough samples. Effect of temperature on the rate constant was adequately modeled by the Arrhenius relationship. The rate constant was found to be affected by porosity of the dough sample.