Journal
FOODS
Volume 10, Issue 10, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/foods10102326
Keywords
solar cooker; solar dryer; food processing; nutraceuticals; antioxidants; vitamins
Categories
Funding
- Regione Lazio, through Progetto RSI-Domanda [PROT A0375-2020-36706]
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This review article summarized the current state of solar cookers and dryers used in food processing, focusing on equipment using direct sunlight for cooking and the potential of storing heat with Phase Change Materials. By analyzing case studies, it discussed the impact of solar energy on food quality and highlighted the need for further research in this area.
This work reviewed the state of the art concerning solar cookers and dryers used in food processing. The general description of solar cookers and dryers was presented, with a specific attention to the equipment where the cooking takes place with the contribution of the direct sunlight. Some insight about the history of design and development of devices that use solar light to process food were provided. The possibility to store the heat produced by solar light using Phase Change Materials was analyzed. Moreover, some case-studies were revised and discussed, in which solar light is efficiently used to dry or cook food, focusing on the quality of the food in terms of nutraceuticals content. The analyzed literature points out the necessity for further research about the effects produced by direct solar rays on different foods. The reliable data on this aspect will allow assessment of the quality of food transformation by solar cookers and dryers, adding a strong incentive to the development of such devices, up to now primarily motivated by energy-saving and environmental issues.
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