Showing papers by "M. R. Manikantan published in 2010"

Texture and quality parameters of oyster mushroom as influenced by drying methods

Abstract: A b s t r a c t. The effect of the drying methods on textural characteristics, protein content, and residual enzyme activities was studied. The mushrooms dried by the freeze-drying method showed the least firmness, with mean firmness force of 1.42 N and firmness strength of 4.27 N-mm. The highest firmness was observed in the osmo-air dried oyster mushrooms. High cutting force of 12.94 N and cutting energy of 14.73 N-mm were observed for those dried by osmo-air drying. Lower force of 1.07 N and energy of 1.58 N-mm were sufficient to fracture the freeze-dried mushrooms, and the highest fracture force and energy were observed for the fluidized-bed dried mushrooms. High protein content and residual activities of catalase and peroxidase were observed in mushrooms dried by the sun-drying method, which was closely followed by the osmo-air drying method. In terms of retention/improvement of texture in oyster mushrooms, osmo-air drying yielded hard and tough dried mushroom and freeze-drying method yielded very soft texture of mushrooms. K e y w o r d s: oyster mushroom, drying, texture, protein, peroxidase, catalase