The freezing rate is a determining parameter in the final quality of
frozen foods. A slowrate usually results in formation of large ice crystals
that might damage the texture of a food. A fast freezing rate prevents
the migration of water and produces fine and numerous ice crystals
(Le-Bail, 2004). The freezing rates between different field intensities
were compared between the temperature range from −5 °C to
−10 °C (Le-Bail, Chapleau, Anton-De Lamballerie, & Vignolle, 2008;
Xanthakis, Le-Bail, & Ramaswamy, 2014). The moisture contents of
meat samples were in the narrow range (74.15–74.54) which indicates
the uniformity of water contents in the tested samples. There were no
significant differences between the treatments and control samples
with respect to the freezing rate (Table 1). These results were expected
because unlike microwave assisted freezing which can induce thermal
effect in the samples, ESF is not causing significant thermal effects on
the meat sample (Xanthakis et al., 2014). In addition, corona wind
production and passage of electrical current across the samples were
inhibited in the experimental set up.