EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF PRE-TREATMENTS AND DRYING METHODS ON AMBIENT STORAGE OF DRIED TOMATO SLICES
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Tomato slices were dried using (i) open sun drying and Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) solar drying technologies ((ii) Parabolic Shaped Solar Dryer (PSSD) and (iii) Solar Tent Dryer STD) packaged and stored at ambient. Some Lots were treated using blanching while others were untreated. Samples of stored dried tomato slices were investigated for moldiness, bacterial contamination and some physiochemical properties. Total viable counts (TVCs) for bacteria and fungi reduced significantly during the six months storage period. No significant difference (p<0.05) was recorded in Total viable counts of bacteria and fungi for the different lots of dried tomato slices. Further, Blanching had no significant effect on the microbiological quality of the different dried tomato slices after storage. Although moisture contents increased in the 3 lots of dried tomato slices during storage in the plastic packs, there were no significant difference (p<0.05) in the moisture content increase between the blanched and un-blanched samples. The Ash content reduced progressively as storage time increased for stored dried tomato lots from the different dryers. However, Ash content of blanched lot dried using the PSSD had no significant change after six months. The pH of stored dried tomato lots increased significantly during the six months but was within the low acid region from 4.35-5.87pH units. Reduction in microbial load during storage indicates effectiveness of drying. Moisture reduction using the improved solar drying technologies, despite slight increases of moisture contents during storage. Increase in pH and decreases of ash contents can also be associated in the slight increase of moisture content. Still drying of tomato slices using the NSPRI improved drying technologies is advocated for, because of the cleanliness of drying compared possibility of contamination with dirt in Open air sun drying.
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Authors: Oyebanji A.O., Ige I.M., Akande S.A., Ayanda I., Dada O.A., Adediji A.Y., Adekalu A.O., Olatunji J.T.
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Keywords: Tomato, drying, Pre-drying treatment, Storage.
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