COMBINED OSMOTIC AND MICROWAVE DRYING OF STRAWBERRIES

ABSTRACT

Strawberries pretreated with 2% ethyl oleate and 0.5% NaOH were osmotically dehydrated and their osmotic dehydration rate is compared with untreated berries. It was found that treated berries dehydrated belter compared to untreated berries. Osmotically dehydrated berries were convective and microwave dried at different power levels and results were compared with respect to drying time and rate. The rehydration ratio, texture, color and sensory values are compared with freeze dried strawberries with the same pretreatment. It was found that microwave drying was short in time and the quality parameters of the microwave dried berries were comparable to those of freeze dried berries.     

Microwave Freeze–Drying Characteristics and Sensory Quality of Instant Vegetable Soup

Instant vegetable soup mix was dehydrated in a microwave freeze dryer to study the drying characteristics and sensory properties of the dried product. The mix was dried at different microwave power levels, material thicknesses, and material loads. As expected, microwave power significantly influenced the total drying time and sensory quality of the final product. The total drying time increased with the increase of material thickness and load. A material layer that is too thin causes the product quality to deteriorate.     

Freeze Drying of Apple Slices with and without Application of Microwaves

In this study, Fuji apple slices were dehydrated using freeze drying (FD) combined with microwave assisted with vacuum drying (VMD). The optimal parameter for the diversion point of moisture content from FD to VMD process was at the moisture level of 21%, and for VMD the optimal parameter for vacuum pressure was at 9.15 kPa and microwave power density was at a level of 3.18 w/g. The results show that the two-step technique can significantly reduce total FD time required by up to 40%, while the nutritional value of the dried apple chips remained unchanged compared to FD used alone.     

Effects of different drying methods on the extraction rate and qualities of oils from demucilaged flaxseed

Effects of different drying methods, i.e., oven drying, freeze drying, vacuum drying, and microwave drying, on the extraction rate and qualities of oil extracted from demucilaged flaxseed were investigated. The results show that microwave drying and freeze drying have higher extraction rate and yield (46.36 and 46.16% vs. 33.90%) of oil compared with native flaxseed. The oil extracted from dried flaxseed, especially the one freeze dried, had higher peroxide value (21.63 vs. 6.15?meq/kg) and specific ultraviolet extinction at 232?nm (4.56 vs. 3.67) and 268?nm (1.23 vs. 1.12), as well as a shorter induction time (1.8 vs. 3.3?h) than the one from native sample. Demucilaging and drying have no significant effect on fatty acid composition of flaxseed oil. However, these processes increased the content of total phenols and total sterols while reduced the content of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment. In addition, the oil extracted from vacuum dried flaxseed contained more tocols when compared with native sample (447.29 vs. 370.99?mg/kg).     

A Comparative Study on the Effects of Microwave and High Electric Field Pretreatments on Drying Kinetics and Quality of Mushrooms

This research evaluated the effects of microwave and high-voltage pretreatments on convective freeze drying of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) independently. The effect of the microwave (5 W/g for 5 min) and high electric field (HEF; 430 kV/m for 15 min) as pretreatments on enhancement of the drying rates during subsequent drying and the value addition due to the above pretreatments on the quality of the final dehydrated products were investigated. An exponential mathematical model was developed by fitting the drying kinetics to the Page equation to predict the effects of the pretreatments on the drying kinetics of the mushrooms. The parameters considered for the evaluation of product quality project included color, texture, shrinkage properties, and rehydration ratio of the dried mushrooms. The drying rate of HEF-pretreated mushrooms was found to be unaffected overall when compared to the control and the HEF pretreatment resulted in better quality product and less overall shrinkage. Freeze drying of the pretreated mushrooms was found to result in slower drying rate but better overall quality and rehydration ratio.     

Drying Characteristics and Quality of Restructured Wild Cabbage Chips Processed Using Different Drying Methods

The drying characteristics of restructured wild cabbage chips dried using microwave vacuum (MVD), hot air (AD), and microwave freeze drying (MFD) were compared. Some of the key quality parameters of restructured wild cabbage chips such as fracturability and color and sensory characteristics were measured. Results showed that the drying time was reduced with the increase of microwave power (MVD/MFD) and in the case of air drying by the temperature (AD). Drying time was the shortest in the MVD process. Optimal quality of dried chips was obtained with the MFD process at a microwave power level 2.0 W/g.     

Studies on Hot Air and Microwave Vacuum Drying of Wild Cabbage

Wild cabbage was dehydrated by a combination of hot-air drying and microwave vacuum drying. It showed that the total drying time was reduced by about half while the retention values of the nutrient components and chlorophyll were improved significantly. Microwave/vacuum-dried products had a more porous texture. Finally, microwave drying showed effective bactericidal action in the product with acceptable quality of dried product.     

Drying kinetics and product quality of green soybean under different microwave drying methods

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different microwave drying techniques on the drying kinetics and product quality of dried green soybean. Experiments were conducted using microwave vacuum drying (MVD), pulse-spouted vacuum microwave drying (PSMVD), pulse-spouted microwave drying (PSMD), and microwave freeze drying (MFD). Parameters of apparent density, color, processing temperature, expansion ratio, rehydration ratio, texture, and microstructure of the dried products were determined. The results showed that the MFD green soybean had a small change on bright color, compared with the fresh samples, but the drying time was the longest among the four methods. The bright color value of PSMVD/PSMD/MVD, respectively, was 79.77, 71.43, and 55.45, and drying time of them was slightly different. The PSMVD/PSMD showed advantages over MVD by improving the product quality.     

干燥方式对红枣动力学及挥发性成分的影响

采用热风干燥、真空冷冻干燥和微波真空干燥对红枣进行干燥处理，结合顶空固相微萃取-气相色谱-质谱（headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry，HS-SPME-GC-MS）和电子鼻对枣片挥发性成分进行了分析，并对比了3种干燥方式对红枣色泽、动力学和挥发性成分的影响。结果表明，热风干燥和微波真空干燥对枣片色泽影响较大，真空冷冻干燥能够更好的保持原始色泽；对动力学方程进行拟合，发现Page 模型为预测红枣3种干燥方式干燥特性最适合的数学模型；干燥对枣片挥发性成分种类及相对含量差异显著，其中干燥前后相同的挥发性成分有19种。挥发性物质主要有酸类、酯类、醇类、醛类、酮类、烃类、杂环类和其他化合物，干燥过后枣片中酸类和烷烃类挥发性成分相对含量显著增加，醛类和杂环类物质显著降低。电子鼻结果表明干燥后枣片香气特征与新鲜红枣有较大的区别，热风干燥和微波真空干燥香味特征较为接近，微波真空干燥枣片的焦甜香特征更为明显。相较于热风干燥和真空冷冻干燥，微波真空干燥效率较高、能耗较低、周期较短，更适于制备干燥枣片。     

The Effects of Predrying Treatments and Different Drying Methods on Phytochemical Compound Retention and Drying Characteristics of Moringa Leaves (Moringa oleifera Lam.)

The most appropriate maturity stage of Moringa oleifera leaves was selected for drying based on phytochemical content, including quercetin and kaempferol. Desorption isotherms were developed and were best fit by the modified Henderson model. Prior to drying, samples were left untreated, blanched in boiling water, and blanched in NaHCO₃/MgO. The leaves were dried by hot air tray drying (TD) and heat pump–dehumidified drying air (HPD) at air temperatures of 40, 50, and 60°C. Alternatively, leaves were subject to microwave drying (MWD) at 150, 450, and 900 W and to freeze drying (FD). The moisture versus time data were fitted to five drying models. In general, a three-parameter model gave the best fit. The drying constant was related to the drying temperature or microwave power using an Arrhenius model. Effective moisture diffusivity (D _eff) increased with higher drying temperature, higher microwave power, or blanching treatments. Structural changes in the leaves after drying and upon rehydration were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Leaves blanched and dried using HPD at 50°C and fresh and dried using FD showed a partial breakdown of the tissue structure upon rehydration. HPD and blanching reduced the drying time by 8.3% and increased quercetin and kaempferol levels by 42.1 and 51.4%, respectively, compared to TD at 50°C. MWD provided the quickest drying followed by HPD and TD, respectively. HPD drying of M. oleifera after blanching resulted in relatively greater quality compared to TD and MWD.     

Effects of Different Drying Methods on the Quality Changes of Granular Edamame

In this article, the quality changes of the granular fruits and vegetables dried by vacuum microwave drying, freeze drying, hot air drying, and combined hot air–vacuum microwave drying are investigated, and the quality parameters compared on the basis of vitamin C and chlorophyll contents, shrinkage and rehydration capacity, color, texture, and microstructure changes. The quality parameters of products dried by vacuum microwave drying are slightly lower than those obtained by freeze drying, but much better than those obtained using conventional hot air drying. The quality characteristics of product dried by combined hot air–vacuum microwave are significantly improved compared to those simply hot air–dried.     

Studies on Hot Air and Microwave Vacuum Drying of Wild Cabbage

Abstract

Wild cabbage was dehydrated by a combination of hot-air drying and microwave vacuum drying. It showed that the total drying time was reduced by about half while the retention values of the nutrient components and chlorophyll were improved significantly. Microwave/vacuum-dried products had a more porous texture. Finally, microwave drying showed effective bactericidal action in the product with acceptable quality of dried product.     

Effects of Different Drying Methods on the Quality Changes of Granular Edamame

In this article, the quality changes of the granular fruits and vegetables dried by vacuum microwave drying, freeze drying, hot air drying, and combined hot air-vacuum microwave drying are investigated, and the quality parameters compared on the basis of vitamin C and chlorophyll contents, shrinkage and rehydration capacity, color, texture, and microstructure changes. The quality parameters of products dried by vacuum microwave drying are slightly lower than those obtained by freeze drying, but much better than those obtained using conventional hot air drying. The quality characteristics of product dried by combined hot air-vacuum microwave are significantly improved compared to those simply hot air-dried.     

DRYING CHARACTERISTICS OF OSMOTICALLY PRETREATED CRANBERRIES—ENERGY AND QUALITY ASPECTS*

ABSTRACT

This study reports on finish drying of osmotically pretreated (dehydrated and sugar-infused) cranberries. The halved fresh berries pretreated in a standard osmotic solution (67.5 Brix at 50°C for 5 h) were then freeze-dried, vacuum-dried and air-dried in various dryers (cabinet-air-through, fluid bed, pulsed fluid bed, and vibrated fluid bed dryers) in order to identify the best drying technology. Energy consumption and product quality were chosen as the comparison criteria. The best product quality, quantified by the anthocyanins content, rehydration ratio, color and taste, was noted for freeze-dried berries. As all other drying methods gave similar, albeit slightly lower quality products than freeze-drying, the selection of a drying method could be based on the unit heat consumption. The vibrated fluid bed and the pulsed fluid bed should be favored because of the highest energy efficiency. Even though sugar infused into cranberries during osmotic pretreatment reduces drying rates during the second drying period as compared to untreated berries, osmotic dehydration reduces the total energy consumption on top of the preferential sensory characteristics of the final product.

     

Vacuum Drying for Ultrafine Alumina Powders

It is well known that the drying of liquid-borne powders will create agglomerates and the problem of agglomeration is particularly acute in the nanoscale range. To eliminate/mitigate the agglomeration problem, in this study, a vacuum drying technique was used for drying the colloid solution with θ-Al₂O₃ ultrafine particles. For comparison purposes, other drying methods including oven drying, microwave drying, and freeze drying were also applied for drying of the same kind of colloid solution. The results indicate that the redispersibility, which is closely related to the degree of agglomeration, of the dried powders obtained from vacuum drying is better than that obtained from freeze drying. More surprisingly, results showed that the dried powders obtained from the vacuum drying assisted by microwave heating has the redispersibility close to 100%.     

Development of a Microwave–Vacuum-Based Dehydration Technique for Fresh and Microwave–Osmotic (MWODS) Pretreated Whole Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

A bench scale microwave–vacuum (MWV) dryer was developed using a modified consumer-grade microwave oven. MWV dehydration was first tested as a standalone method on whole frozen–thawed berries. Subsequently, a new combination drying technique was developed employing microwave osmotic dehydration under continuous-flow medium-spray (MWODS) conditions together with MWV as a secondary drying operation. Fresh (frozen–thawed) and MWODS pretreated berries were dried under a range of MWV treatments employing continuous and decreasing microwave power settings (duty cycles). Initial microwave power density for all treatments was approximately 10.2 W/g and magnetron power-on and power-off times varied from 3 to 15 s and 27 to 15 s, respectively. Drying times to 20% (db) were recorded and energy consumption was calculated according to the total magnetron power-on time where overall it was found that drying times and energy consumption decreased with increasing MWV process intensity, where drying times for all MWV treatments were significantly shorter than those of conventional air drying. Drying kinetics were fit using two models (exponential and Page's empirical model), where Page's model better fit the experimental data. The quality of the berries was monitored visually through evidence of scorching in order to screen treatments and establish upper limits of treatment intensity for further studies.     

Microwave-Assisted Spouted Bed Drying of Lettuce Cubes

Microwave-assisted spouted bed (MSBD) drying of lettuce cubes was investigated experimentally. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the process with spouting air temperature, microwave power level, and superficial air velocity. The dried product obtained was compared with that obtained using other drying technologies such as hot air drying, air spouted bed drying, vacuum microwave drying, and vacuum freeze drying. The comparison is based on the rehydration ratio, chlorophyll content of the product, color, and the drying time required.     

Microwave Freeze Drying of Apple Slices Based on the Dielectric Properties

Freeze drying (FD) yields the best quality of dried apple slices but requires a long drying time and is not cost-effective. To mitigate these problems, a microwave freeze drying (MFD) technique was developed to dry apple slices. The relationship between corona discharge and microwave power at various pressures and initial moisture content conditions was studied to avoid the possibility of corona discharge during MFD. It was found that with change of moisture content and temperature of samples during MFD, the dielectric property also changed, which resulted in dynamic microwave dissipation. Based on the dielectric property of samples, a changed microwave loading scheme can lead to perfect product quality and greatly reduce the drying time; thus, MFD can be used to replace the traditional FD technique.     

A Two-Stage Vacuum Freeze and Convective Air Drying Method for Strawberries

Strawberries were dehydrated in a two-stage combination drying consisting of vacuum freeze drying (FD) followed by hot air drying (AD), and in a two-stage hybrid method involving FD and finish AD(FAD) to obtain dehydrated strawberries of high quality at reduced cost. Energy consumption and physicochemical properties of the FAD product were compared with single-stage AD and single-stage FD. The quality parameters of the products were also analyzed. It was found that the quality of combined FAD-dried products approximated that of single-stage FD. Hence, the proposed two-stage combination drying method is recommended for dehydration of strawberries to obtain a high-quality product at lower cost when compared with vacuum freeze drying alone.     

A Two-Stage Vacuum Freeze and Convective Air Drying Method for Strawberries

Strawberries were dehydrated in a two-stage combination drying consisting of vacuum freeze drying (FD) followed by hot air drying (AD), and in a two-stage hybrid method involving FD and finish AD(FAD) to obtain dehydrated strawberries of high quality at reduced cost. Energy consumption and physicochemical properties of the FAD product were compared with single-stage AD and single-stage FD. The quality parameters of the products were also analyzed. It was found that the quality of combined FAD-dried products approximated that of single-stage FD. Hence, the proposed two-stage combination drying method is recommended for dehydration of strawberries to obtain a high-quality product at lower cost when compared with vacuum freeze drying alone.