Temperature fluctuation during storage and distribution of frozen foods has been a major concern for
frozen food manufacturing industry. The fluctuation of temperature results in thawing and recrystallization
of ice crystals, which is the main cause of frozen food quality degradation during storage. The
effect of temperature fluctuations on ice recrystallization in frozen potatoes was investigated. Using
micro computed tomography, growth in pore area due to increase in ice crystal sizes was determined.
Four treatments (constant at 80 C; and fluctuations between 17 to 16 C, e17 to 11 C and 17
to 7 C) were used to observe their effect on pore size distribution. The growth of ice crystals with the
increase in amplitude of temperature fluctuations resulted in damaging the microstructure of frozen
potatoes. The damage pore solid walls resulted in reduction of the number of pores and increase in the
size of pores.