ABSTRACT
Thermal processing of canned foods can be divided into two major process methods:
in-container sterilization
and
in-flow sterilization
. The in-flow process refers to aseptic processing and aseptic packaging, which are covered in the previous chapter. The in-container process generally refers to the canning process, in which the prepared food is filled into a package before sealing and sterilization. The food could be packaged in metal cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, retortable pouches, retortable cartons, rigid and semirigid plastic containers, etc. Although the canning process started from Nicholas Appert’s time in 1810,
food processing via the canning process still provides a universal and economic method for preserving and processing foods. It is one of the most convenient and safe food products in today’s life.
