Drying characteristics and value addition of horticulture crops using thermally efficient indirect solar drier with temperature controller system

Abstract

In the present investigation, apple and tomato were dried in three modes of drying viz. indirect solar drier, electric drier and open sun. The shelf life and quality parameters of dried products were compared between these three modes of drying. It has been found that shelf life of dried products dried in solar drier is higher than other modes of drying. The quality parameters such as, TSS, reducing sugars, total sugars, total solids and titratable acidity of dried products were better in solar drier as compared to other modes of drying. The drying efficiency of the solar drier ranged between 33.84% to 40.45%. The carbon emission has been reduced in solar drier as compared to electric oven between 15.52 to 19.83 kg.