Kinetics of flavor degradation in black pepper was studied at isothermal (50-120 degrees C) and non-isothermal conditions. The degradation of flavor was also followed in three different cooking methods viz., open pan, pressure cooking and a newly developed slow cooker named "EcoCooker'. Flavor was evaluated in terms of piperine for pungency and total extractable oleoresin. The degradation of flavor (piperine and total extractable oleoresin) was found to follow first order kinetics. A mathematical model has been developed using the isothermal kinetic parameters obtained to predict the flavor loss from the time-temperature data of non-isothermal heating/processing method. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.