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DEHYDRATION AND PROCESSING PROBLEMS OF TARO
Author(s) -
MOY J. H.,
WANG N. T. S.,
YAMA T. O. M. NAKA
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2621.1977.tb12636.x
Subject(s) - palatability , dehydration , colocasia esculenta , manihot esculenta , food science , moisture , horticulture , taste , mathematics , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Taro ( Colocasia esculenta L. Schott.) is an underexploited root crop with promising economic value. A study was made to determine the feasibility of producing samples of taro (var. Lehua) in ration dense forms which will be stable at 38°C for a year or more, and to detect problems in dehydration and processing which would affect the palatability and storage quality of the dried products. Taro samples (5 mm thick slices) were freeze dried, air dried and solar dried, then stored in polyethylene bags at 21°C, 38°C and 60°C. Analyzed monthly, most samples showed small changes in acidity, some degradation in anthocyanins, some increase in moisture contents, and a rather large decrease in catalase activities. Taste panel evaluation of eating quality by multiple comparison test resulted in scores averaging 4.5/7.0 for all the dried samples while the control received 5.5/7.0. Energy value was about 4.0 Cal/g and gelatinization temperature was in the upper range as that of rice and slightly higher than wheat. Further assessments are being continued to determine if the physical form chosen was suitable for stability and acceptability tests, the preferred method of dehydration in terms of optimizing quality and energy requirements, and the effects of processing and storage on the eating qualities.