Effects of microwave and hot air oven drying on the nutritional, microbiological load, and color parameters of the house crickets (Acheta domesticus)

摘要

This research examined the effects of microwave and hot air oven drying on the nutritional,microbiological load, and color parameters of crickets’ powder. Both dryingmethods resulted in a slight variation in proximate composition. Microwave dryingwas considered the most suitable method for producing crickets’ powder becauseof the high levels of mineral elements, improvement in color parameters, and lowlevels of microbiological loads in microwave crickets’ powder compared to an oven. Italso improved the vitamin B2 content as evidenced by a significantly higher amount(4.84 ± 0.01 mg/100 g dry basis) in microwave crickets’ powder compared to theoven (3.83 ± 0.01 mg/100 g dry basis). However, the level (<1.00 ± 0.00 cfu/g) ofStaphylococcus aureus in all samples was lower than the accepted risk threshold. Thefindings highlighted the inherent vitamin B2, minerals, microbiological load, and colorimprovements of microwave drying technique.Practical applicationsNutritional value, microbiological load, and sensory parameters of microwave andoven-dried crickets’ powder were assessed to determine the practical application ofboth drying techniques in addressing the diversity of food standards and food safetypolicies, and provide scientific evidence for the development, and implementation ofgood manufacturing practices for whole-dried crickets and crickets’ powder. The resultsof this present study clearly demonstrated that the microwave drying techniquecan be used effectively to improve the nutritional benefits, microbiological load,and increased acceptance of cricket's entomophagy compared to oven. Moreover,because of high dietary factors in crickets’ powder, the supplementation of foodproducts with crickets’ powder can contribute to a reduction in malnutrition rates.Further, population vitamin B2, B3, B12, and several mineral deficits can easily betackled with crickets’ powder and whole-dried cricket's entomophagy.