Osmo-convective drying of fruits and vegetables: Technology and application

With reference to typical food preservation processes which consist of changing the water binding to material, the technology and application of osmotic dehydration were discussed as an initial treatment before convection drying of fruit and vegetables. Particular attention was paid to the possibilities to produce more shelf-stable food while keeping the high quality of final product. The course of osmotic dehydration of plant tissue as well as its influence on convection drying and on the properties of preserved fruit and vegetables were presented. Copyright (C) 1996 by Marcel Dekker, Inc.