Two empirical parameters, j and f, have been used to determine the thermal diffusivity values of food by several researchers. Since there are considerable variations in j values, a new procedure was developed for the experimental determination of thermal diffusivity of foods without using this parametric value. A sample was filled into a cylindrical cell whose diameter and length were approximately 10 and 130 mm, respectively. The temperatures of the sample were monitored at the mid‐point of the central axis and on the inside surface of the cell. These temperatures were used to estimate thermal diffusivity values together with an analytical formula for heat conduction in an infinite cylinder. The method was utilized to determine the thermal diffusivity, Biot number, and surface heat conductance values of water, 60% sucrose solution, glycerine, cherry tomato pulp, and apple pulp. There was close agreement between thermal diffusivity values determined experimentally and such values available in published literature. Mathematical procedures are presented for estimating errors in the thermophysical property values determined experimentally, where there are errors in locating temperature sensors in a sample, errors in the shape of the diffusivity cell, and errors in the temperature sensing device. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved
