Modification and evaluation of electric-powered dehydrator

Abstract

This study was conducted to modify the existing electric-powered dehydrator for saba banana and mushroom and to evaluate its performance in terms of drying capacity, moisture reduction rate, drying heat utilization, and drying efficiency; and to evaluate the quality of the dehydrated saba banana and mushroom. The electric-powered dehydrator consists of the drying chamber with eight layers of tray, heating element (3,000-watts ceramic air heater), suction fan (53-watts ), temperature control system with humidstat, and exhaust air outlet with air damper. All parts of the machine were made of stainless steel materials. The machine has a body dimension of 102cm heights, 72cm width, and 47cm length. Results revealed that the electric-powered dehydrator had an input capacity of 3.6kg of saba banana chips and 3.54kg of sliced mushroom per batch. For an average dehydration time of 3.72hr for saba banana and 8.57hr for mushroom, the machine obtained an average moisture reduction rate of 10.51%/hr and 8.49%/hr, respectively. The drying temperature was maintained at 57.59 ̊C for saba banana and 57.57 ̊ C for mushroom. Moreover, it had an average drying capacity of 0.93g/hr for saba banana and 0.41kg/hr for mushroom; heat utilization of 2.78kJ/hr for banana and 27.18kJ/hr for mushroom; and an average drying efficiency of 29.74% for saba banana and 18.10% for mushroom. Lastly, results on the organoleptic quality of the dehydrated products are as follows: the dried saba banana was whitish, very dry, flavour and aroma were desirable, firm but too soft, appearance was moderately desirable, and very much acceptable. The dried mushroom was yellow brown, moderately dry, desirable flavour, moderately desirable in aroma, firm but too soft, moderately desirable in appearance, and very much acceptable.