EFFECT OF OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION ON COLOR AND SORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF APPLE AND BANANA

Abstract

Color and sorption characteristics of osmotically treated and air dried apple and banana were studied during air drying at 70^°C. The color parameters: Lightness (L), Redness (a) and Yellowness (b) were studied, using a Hunter Lab chromatometer. A first order kinetic model was fitted to the experimental data adequately for color parameters, while sorption data for treated and air dried products were fitted to the GAB model. Untreated fruits showed an extensive browning which was monitored by a significant drop of the lightness (L) and an increase of redness (a) and yellowness (b). Osmotically pretreated samples did not brown as much as the untreated samples and the lightness L decreased only slightly while a, b increased slightly. Osmotic pretreatment resulted in a shift in sorption isotherm for both fruits. Osmotic dehydration prevented color damages and decreased the sorption capacity of dehydrated products.