Dielectric properties of foods: Reported data in the 21st Century and their potential applications

Dielectric properties (DP) are the main parameters that provide information about how materials interact with electromagnetic energy during dielectric heating. These properties have gained great importance and applications for foods that are subjected to novel microwave (MW) or radio frequency (RF) heating treatments. The knowledge of the DP of a determined foodstuff is fundamental in order to understand and model the response of the material to the electromagnetic field, at certain desired frequencies and temperatures. Through the last years, many potential applications of electromagnetic heating for foods have emerged and been published in the literature; however, new uses or research in food products to be treated with MW or RF may be limited due to lack of DP data. This review provides an overall introduction and definition of the DP, factors that affect them, methods for their determination, as it also includes reported DP data for foods after the year 2000. DP values were grouped depending on the nature of foods, such as: 1) fruits and vegetables, 2) flour, dough and bread, 3) nuts, 4) coffee grains, 5) meats, fish and seafood, 6) dairy products, 7) eggs and egg products and 8) liquid fluids. We consider that this paper is a useful reference that contains current and valuable information on the DP of foods, which can be available and used for further developments employing MW or RF heating food technologies.