ohmic heating

Heating caused by the passage through a conductor of an electric current. It is used in the food-processing industry to sterilize foodstuffs before packing. The heating effect is similar to that obtained by microwaves in that electrical energy is transformed into heat throughout the whole volume of the food, not just at the surface.

Ohmic heating is suitable for foods containing chunks of meat or fruit. It is an alternative to in-can sterilization and has been used to produce canned foods such as meat chunks, prawns, baked beans, fruit, and vegetables.