EFFECT OF DRYING METHODS ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF AMRY DATE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Food and Dairy Science and Technology.Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences.Suez Canal University.

Abstract

In many countries of the world the use of sun drying in agricultural area to conserve vegetable, fruits and other crops has shown to be practical economically and the responsible approach environmentally .In this investigation we used sun drying, oven drying  (at 60°C and  90 °C )and greenhouse drying to dry  date of Amry variety grown in North Sinai . The chemical composition and sensory properties were studied. Results showed that the moisture ,tannin ,total acidity and crude fiber were decreased after drying methods , while pectin , color, ash and  total and reducing sugar were increased . Results showed that the greenhouse drying was the best method of drying for Amry date, while the oven drying at 90 Co  resulted in the lowest  quality of products.