FOAM-MAT CONVECTIVE AND MICROWAVE DRIED AVOCADO POWDER: PHYSICAL, FUNCTIONAL, AND POWDER PROPERTIES

摘要

This study aimed to produce hot air (60-80 degrees C and 20% ventilation rate) and microwave (120-700W) assisted foam mat dried avocado powders and to determine the effect of different drying temperatures and microwave powers on physical, functional, and powder properties of avocado powders. Significantly lower drying times were observed for the microwave-assisted foam mat dried avocado powder (MW, p<0.05). Microwave-assisted foam mat dried avocado powders have superior properties in moisture content and flow properties (p<0.05), whereas comparatively better results were obtained for hot air assisted foam mat dried avocado powder (CD) for wettability and solubility times. The changes in ash content, pH, water holding capacity, bulk and tapped densities, Carr Index, and Hausner Ratio values followed a quadratic trend depending on both drying temperature and microwave power. The first variable explained 53.63%, and the second variable explained 21.08% of the variance for a total of 74.71% by Principal Component Analysis.