Study of banana dehydration using sequential infrared radiation heating and freeze-drying

The drying and quality characteristics of banana slices processed with a sequential infrared radiation and freeze-drying (SIRFD) method were investigated. Cavendish bananas slices with 5 mm thickness were predehydrated using IR heating at each one of three radiation intensities, 3000, 4000, and 5000 W/m(2) or hot air at 62.8 degrees C. The predehydrated samples with 20% and 40% weight reductions obtained using 4000 W/m(2) IR intensity were then further dried using freeze-drying for various times to determine the effect of predehydration on the drying rate during freeze-drying. To improve the quality of dried banana chips, the banana slices were also treated with a dipping solution containing 10 g/l ascorbic acid and 10 g/l citric acid before the IR predehydration. Control samples were produced using regular freeze-drying without the predehydration. The quality characteristics of dried banana chips, including color, thickness shrinkage and crispness, were evaluated. The predehydration results showed that the drying rate of IR heating was significantly higher than the hot air drying and increased with the increase of IR intensity. For example, it took 10 and 38 min to achieve 40% weigh reduction by using IR at 4000 W/m(2) and hot air drying, respectively. However, the banana slices with IR predehydration dried slower during freeze-drying compared to the samples without predehydration, which was due to texture changes that occurred during the predehydration. Acid dipping improved product color and also reduced freeze-drying time compared to non-dipped samples. It has been concluded that SIRFD can be used for producing high crispy banana chips and additional acid dipping improved product color and reduced required freeze-drying time. (C) 2008 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.