Abstract: A high pressure processing system includes a pressure vessel configured to receive a basket or container, a high pressure pump configured to pump a pressure media to the pressure vessel to raise pressure in the pressure vessel, and a heater or cooler system, such as thermal jacket surrounding the pressure vessel, and the thermal jacket contains heat transfer media that is heated and cooled. The high pressure processing system, in addition to processing food stuff at a very high pressure of at least 2,000 bar also processes the food stuff at any high temperature of about 40° C. or greater.

Abstract: A container or load basket (80, 90) constructed for addressing thermal stratification of a product in the container/load basket and addressing thermal stratification of the processing medium during high pressure processing with a pressurized processing medium. The container includes an upper section (86, 96) forming a volume for receiving the product to be processed and a truncated lower section forming the bottom of the container. The bottom of the container is defined by a floor or partition (84, 92) extending across the lower portion of the container.The floor or partition can be constructed from the same material from which the upper section of the container is formed or a material that is more adiabatically active than the material from which the upper section of the container is formed.