Abstract: Microwave sterilization is a novel technology for food processing which has broad prospect in food industry. Microwave sterilization related to the design of the system,temperature distribution,temperature recording at cold spot and processing schedule optimization and so on. Currently, industrial microwave sterilization technology is at the stage of industrial amplificationt. The microbial safety of microwave sterilization has been approved and,and the industrialization is in progress,the non-uniform heating is still the major problem. This paper systematically illustrated the principle of microwave heating,the theory for microwave heating system design,processing schedule and the research trends of microwave sterilization in food industrial. It will provide theoretical and technical guidance for related researcher with this area.