Efeito da desidratação osmótica assistida por ultrassom no processo de secagem convectiva de abacaxi pérola

Abstract

Despite its importance as a major world producer, Brazil has a minimal share in the international market of fruit. Part of the production that does not meet minimum quality standards for export is lost after harvest. Thus, these fruits could be dried to preserve part of production that is not consumed or exported, thereby increasing the shelf life of fruit, reducing shipping weight and provide more income to the producer. The demand for low-calorie foods and non-caloric sweeteners is increasing every day. Individuals, who for many reasons need to replace sucrose with non-caloric sweeteners, look for products that are provided with taste and characteristics similar to those of sucrose, as a result, the present study was to evaluate the effects of osmotic dehydration and ultrasound as pretreatment to drying process and the optimization for the production of dehydrated pineapple (Ananas comosus) reduced calorie. When the pineapple in the proportion 3:1 to fruit water (w / w), has the action of the ultrasound probe (200w) in distilled water as liquid medium for 5 minutes, there was the highest value, loss of water, loss of sound and effective diffusivity. In this condition the diffusivity of pineapple increased 2.8 fold when compared to non-pretreated pineapple (fresh), leading to a reduction of 49.66% of the time required to remove 90% of the fruit of the initial water, reducing the total drying time. By optimizing the process data (ratio water / fruit 3:1 (w / w) for 20 minutes on ultrasound) followed by impreguinação stevia solution 10% was possible to reduce the energy value of the pineapple 17.97 %, keeping the colors of fresh fruit after processing. What makes the use of ultrasound technology in an efficient reduction of processing time of dried fruit and participation in the development of new products. Thus, the sonication figure as an alternative technology for obtaining reducing the processing time of fresh fruits of dried fruit and participation in the development of new products.