| Abstract: | The effect of slice thickness and drying time on colour, viscosity, microbial load, moisture, crude fibre, vitamin C and ash contents of okra (Hibiscus esculentus) during solar drying was studied using three slice thicknesses (5·0 mm, 10·0 mm, 15·0 mm) obtained from a survey and five drying times (0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h). The results showed that slice thickness had a significant effect (P<0·01) on moisture, crude fibre and ash contents but not on vitamin C content, viscosity, colour and microbial load. However, the effect of drying time was highly significant (P<0·01) on all the parameters determined. The combined effects of slice thickness and drying time were observed to be highly significant (P<0·05) on ash, crude fibre and moisture contents, viscosity and microbial load but had no significant effect (P<0·05) on colour and vitamin C content. There was a strong correlation between moisture content and ash (R=-0·926), crude fibre (R=-0·94), vitamin C contents (R=0·928) and viscosity (R=-0·963) in all samples during drying. The study showed that a slice thickness of 10·0 mm and a drying time of 48 h was suitable for the solar drying of okra. © 1997 SCI. |
