Effect of Sun Drying on Osmotic Dehydration of Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.)

Abstract

An Experiment was conducted at the Postharvest laboratory, Department of Horticulture entitled with “Effect of osmotic dehydration of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) under sun drying” during the year 2021-2022 to determine the effect of sun drying on osmotic dehydration of beetroot slices for its evaluation of physio-chemical contents, shelf life, and sensory evaluation during total 60 days of storage period and to work out on the economics In this study, 10 treatments with varying amounts of salt, honey, sugar, and K2S2O5 were used, with 4 replications (10 days, 30 days, 45 days, and 60 days) of storage periods at ambient temperature. On the basis of results obtained during the investigation the best osmotic agent for drying of beetroot slice was  T7 Treated beetroot slices  (Sugar 200g/Kg + K2S2O5 0.5%) + Sun drying of beetroot slices) with pH (6.30), TSS (11.46), fat content (0.28), Protein content (2.41), weight (92.5g). T7 (Treated beetroot slices (Sugar 200g/Kg + K2S2O5 0.5%) + Sun drying of beetroot slices) was found to have the highest value for reducing sugar content, Flavour and Taste score, and overall acceptability. Treatment T7 also had the highest benefit-cost ratio (1.94).