Heat transfer coefficients around a model food shaped as a circular cylinder placed on a flat surface and impinged by a slot air jet has been determined using an inverse heat transfer method. The determination was based on time-temperature data measured with a thermocouple in the cylinder and in the air jet. The cylinder was rotated around its horizontal axis to determine the heat-transfer coefficients at different locations around the cylinder. A sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulations was also performed. The local heat-transfer coefficients determined, were compared to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using the k- SST and RSM models. The heat-transfer coefficients determined from temperature measurements was larger than predicted by the CFD simulations. The heat-transfer rates were in better agreement on the upper part of the cylinder, including the decrease along the cylinder due to flow separation, than on the lower part close to the wake recirculation area. The SST model predicted in general a slightly higher heat-transfer rate on the upper part of the cylinder and slightly lower on the lower part of the cylinder, as compared to the RSM model.