Solar Drying and Quality Characteristics of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] as Affected by Blanching

摘要

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is an important warm season vegetable crop of India. Dried okra pods are in great demand for export as well as domestic market. Hence, okra samples were blanched in water at 100°C for 4 min and subjected to solar cabinet drying to observe qualitative changes of the dried product. Blanching pre-treatments was done in plain water for 4 min (T,) and 0.5% potassium metabisulphite (T,). Sample without blanching was considered as control (UT ). The samples were then dried in the solar cabinet dryer (54±4°C). Solar cabinet dried product were found good and acceptable in sensory quality, okra blanched in KMS solution was the best followed by blanched in water. The rehydration ratio (4.5) and coefficient of rehydration (0.452) were the highest in okra blanched with KMS solution among all the samples. The result showed that the rehydrated products could be well utilized for substituting the fresh product in off-season.