Calculation of Required Hold Time of Aseptically Processed Low Acid Foods Containing Particulates Utilizing the Ball Method

Analytical solutions for conduction heat transfer into infinite slab and infinite cylinder were manipulated to give heating equations for a cube and a finite cylinder. Calculated values of j and fh from these equations were substituted into Ball's formula to calculate required hold time for low acid foods containing particulates. This simplifies the calculations normally involved and eliminates the requirement of a computer. However, the method has a limited range of application due to assumptions made in the derivation of Ball's Formula. The assumptions of Ball's Formula relative to aseptic systems are discussed, and a sample calculation is included.