Analytical Study to Screen the Quality of Ginger Slices using Different Drying Methods with Various Chemical Pre-Treatments

Fresh ginger rhizomes were washed, sorted, peeled to remove the cork skin and manually sliced into desired sizes (4 mm thickness) using a knife. The ginger slices were divided into three equal weight (each of 1.5 kg), pre-treated before solar, oven or ambient drying by dipping in three (3) food chemicals; 2% calcium oxide, 2% citric acid  and 2% sodium meta bi-sulphite at 3 minutes interval and dried using solar dryer (36 h), oven dryer (28 h) and ambient (45 h) drying  methods. The proximate and microbial qualities were analyzed using standard methods. The result shows that the moisture value (content) (MC) of fresh sample (79.6%) is higher than all dried samples. In sodium meta bisulphate treated samples, MC of oven dried sample (5.15%) is lower than solar and ambient dried samples (6.50, 6.62%). In citric acid treated samples, MC of oven dried sample (5.23%) is lower than ambient and solar dried samples (6.36, 6.52%). In calcium oxide treated samples, MC of oven dried sample (5.12%) is lower than ambient and solar dried samples (5.97, 6.24%). The protein content (PC) of fresh sample (5.58%) is lower than all dried samples. In sodium meta bisulphite treated samples, PC of oven dried sample (8.42%) is lower than solar and ambient dried samples (9.35, 9.02%). In citric acid treated samples, PC of oven dried sample (7.60%) is lower than ambient and solar dried samples (9.14, 9.02%). In calcium oxide treated samples, PC of oven dried sample (6.86%) is lower than ambient and solar dried samples (9.09, 8.87%). The total viable count (TVC) of sodium meta bisulphite treated oven dried sample (1.90 × 102cfu/g) was lower than solar and ambient dried samples (2.01 × 102, 2.10 × 102). The mould count of sodium meta bisulphite treated oven dried sample (1.10 × 10) was lower than solar and ambient dried samples (2.0 × 10, 4.20 × 10).  Ambient dried samples had higher microbial load than oven and solar dried samples. Sodium meta bisulphate and citric acid reduced microbial activities when compared to calcium oxide. Solar dried samples were preferred over oven and ambient dried samples in all sensory attributes.

Analytical Study to Screen the Quality of Ginger Slices using Different Drying Methods with Various Chemical Pre-Treatments

Okoyeuzu, C. F., Umego, E. C., Ikegwu, T. M. and Ijoma, V.C.  (2020). Analytical study to screen the quality of ginger slices using different drying methods with various chemical pre-treatments. RAS Agricultural Science & Technology, 1 (1): 1 -6