No abstract

Dried fruit consumption is increasing due to its nutritional and healthy properties. Apples are an important source of essential nutritional compounds such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fibers. In this work, the kinetics of drying and rehydration of green apple slices peeled and unpeeled (Granny Smith cv) were studied. The apple slices were dried at 50, 60, and 70 ºC, and after that, rehydrated at ambient (Ta) and boiling temperature (Tb). The drying kinetics were adjusted with the Dincer and Dost model, giving a good fit (R2 > 0.98). Effective diffusivity (Deff) and the convective mass transfer coefficient (hm) were also determined, both coefficients increase with drying temperature, being 1.25×10-9 m2.s-1 and 9.53×10-7 m2.s-1 the highest values obtained for the peeled apple slices respectively. Subsequently, Peleg and Weibull models were adjusted to the rehydration experimental data obtaining a good fit (R2 > 0.99). Deff values increase significantly with rehydration temperature but take similar values between peeled and unpeeled samples. Equivalent diameter, pH, acidity, soluble solids, and moisture content were determined to compare the fresh apple slices with those after dehydration and post rehydration process. The apple slices rehydrated at boiling temperature better preserved the characteristics of fresh samples due to the short immersion times in water, no significant differences were observed between peeled and unpeeled apples. According to the obtained results, it is convenient to dry the apple slices unpeeled at 70 °C and rehydrate them at Tb.