A mechanistic model for baking of unleavened aerated food

A mechanistic model for baking of unleavened aerated food is proposed. The aerated food was assumed to consist initially of uniformly distributed same sized bubbles. The liquid medium was assumed to be Newtonian. Bubble coalescence, nucleation of bubbles and formation of interconnected channels were neglected. Unsteady state heat conduction and moisture diffusion equations were solved to obtain the evolution of temperature, moisture and air volume fraction profiles as well as cake rise. Consistent with experimental observations reported in the literature, the height of aerated food was found to increase with time, reach a maximum and decreased at longer times. The cake rise was found to be faster and larger at higher oven temperatures and for aerated food of higher initial air fraction and larger sugar content. The model predictions of cake rise agreed fairly well with the experimental data of Pernell, Luck, Foegeding, & Daubert, 2002 for fitted initial air volume fractions with the agreement being better at longer times for decreasing air volume fractions. The calculated air volume fraction profiles indicated an expanded inner region of more or less uniform density and a denser surface crust region whose thickness increased with baking time.

► A mechanistic model for baking of unleavened food is presented. ► Model predicted the evolution of moisture and density profiles during baking. ► Cake rise exhibited a maximum as a result of bubble expansion and moisture evaporation. ► Model predicted an expanded uniform inner region and a denser surface crust. ► Thickness of surface crust region increased with time.