Solar tunnel drying of red chillis (Capsicum annum L.)

Joy, CM George, PP Jose, KP

Cm. Joy et al., Solar tunnel drying of red chillis (Capsicum annum L.), J FD SCI M, 38(3), 2001, pp. 213-216

18

INGLESE

Article

Food Science/Nutrition

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-MYSORE

0022-1155 → ACNP

38

3

2001

213 - 216

ISI

0022-1155(200105/06)38:3<213:STDORC>2.0.ZU;2-B

The present investigation was aimed to understand the drying efficiency of solar tunnel dryer and to improve the quality of red chillis. An extensive survey of the cultivated regions and drying methods that prevail in Kerala for chilli was conducted. Attappadi area of Palakkad district was identifie d as the major chilli-growing region in the State. Wet samples of red chill is from two different sampling stations of Attappadi were collected and dri ed in a tunnel dryer. Both physical and chemical quality analyses of the dr ied chills were done according to the National and International Standards. The results of quality analyses of both tunnel-dried chilli samples and th ose chilli samples dried by conventional method, collected from the same sa mpling locations were compared. Considerable reduction in drying time was n oticed in tunnel-dried samples. Improvement in overall quality parameters, cleanliness and texture were noticed in tunnel-dried chilli samples. Optimu m conditions required for the drying of red chilli could be identified.