Optimization of Radio-Frequency Heating Conditions to Achieve Uniform Pasteurization of Irregularly Shaped Spices: The Case of Star Anise.

Yuxuan Zhang, Xingfang Mao, Dingting Zhou, Yingqi Tian, Teng Cheng, Xiaoming Lu, Xiangyu Guan

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yuxuan ZhangKey Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Healthy in Universities of Shandong, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.

Xingfang MaoKey Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Healthy in Universities of Shandong, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.

Dingting ZhouCollege of Agronomy and Life Sciences, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong 657000, China.

Yingqi TianCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.

Teng ChengCollege of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450001, China.ORCID 0009-0001-1024-088X

Xiaoming LuKey Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Healthy in Universities of Shandong, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.

Xiangyu GuanKey Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Healthy in Universities of Shandong, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.

Funding

Department of Science and Technology of Shandong Province 2024TZXD007Shandong Agricultural University 539-539042

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Radio-frequency (RF) heating has been proven effective in inactivating foodborne pathogens or fungi in spices. However, non-uniformity heating remains a major obstacle limiting RF treatment application in the commercial pasteurization of irregularly shaped spices. This study evaluated the effects of star anise arrangement, packaging materials, and dual-bag placement on RF heating uniformity after identifying the optimal input power and electrode gap. The optimal conditions were 400 W and an electrode gap of 5 cm. Under these conditions, heating uniformity was significantly improved by a staggered arrangement, using bags with 0.16 mm aluminum foil (plastic/foil composite) and face-to-face placement of two bags; the average heating uniformity index of the stacked packages decreased from 0.30 to 0.135, corresponding to a reduction of approximately 55.0%. These findings provide practical guidance for scalable, eco-friendly RF pasteurization of irregular spice products, emphasizing key considerations in sample arrangement and packaging/bag placement to control heating uniformity.

Indexed as

arrangement of star anisepackaging bag placementpackaging materialprocess optimizationRF heating uniformity

Identifiers

PMID42587881

DOI10.3390/foods15152621

PMCPMC13463858

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.