ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE FOOD PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHODS

Embodiments herein include processing systems for food products and related methods. In an embodiment, the processing system includes a housing and a product conveyor. The housing defines a processing channel that includes an electromagnetic wave heating chamber. The electromagnetic wave heating chamber is at least partially filled with a fluid, such as a fluid. The conveyor mechanism can convey food products continuously along a conveyance path including a serpentine pathway that includes a plurality of hairpin corners where a direction of the conveyance path is reversed and a depth of the conveyance path is increased. The electromagnetic wave emitting apparatus emits electromagnetic energy into the pathway. The average pressure in the electromagnetic wave heating chamber changes along the conveyor mechanism. The orientation of products along the conveyance path varies minimally along at least portions of the conveyance path. Other embodiments are also included herein.