STUDY OF SOME PHYSIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS MUSHROOM DEHYDRATED WITH DIFFERENT DRYING METHODS

摘要

The Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom had approximately 90% of water and it is highly perishable. The dehydration process is an alternative for the optimum utilization of the mushrooms without cause any substantial modifications in their quality and textural attributes. The objective of this work was to evaluate some physiochemical characteristics of the Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom dried using different methods: 1) dehydration of the mushroom exposure directly to the sun, 2) dehydration of the mushroom using a solar machine (indirect exposition to the sun), and 3) dehydration of the mushroom with electric furnace. The direct exposition of the mushroom to the sun was more efficient to eliminate the product moisture as compared with the machine solar method. However, solar methods were more efficient as compared to the electric furnace method. This latter method had a mushroom with an intensive brown colour and a very soft texture. Mushroom dried with solar machine had a better water absorption capacity characteristics as compared with the mushroom dried with electric furnace.