Patent ID: 8071146

Claim:
An in-shell egg pasteurization process which includes in a dry temperature raising stage, simultaneously raising the temperature of albumen of an in-shell egg predominantly by means of microwave radiation to a temperature between 57Â° C. and 60Â° C. and the temperature of yolk of the in-shell egg by means of said same microwave radiation to a temperature higher than the temperature of the albumen, the temperatures being raised at a rate which reduces at least once over time by reducing a microwave power input to the in-shell egg; simultaneously during microwave radiation of the in-shell egg, in the dry temperature raising stage, raising the temperature of an external surface of the egg predominantly by means of external heat radiation or external heat conduction to a temperature of between 57Â° C. and 70Â° C., or alternatively or in addition allowing the egg surface temperature to rise to a temperature of between 57Â° C. and 70Â° C. as a result of the microwave radiation by inhibiting heat loss from the egg; and in a pasteurization stage, maintaining said temperatures by means of microwave radiation and external heat radiation or by means of microwave radiation and external heat conduction for a period of time sufficient to pasteurize the egg.