Twinkle Borah, Nooreen Washmin, Nayan Jyoti Bora, Jadumoni Saikia, Padma Sangmu Bomzon, Tobiul Hussain Ahmed, Prasenjit Manna, Siddhartha Proteem Saikia, Dipanwita Banik
Abstract
Purpose
The study was aimed to compare the effect of three drying techniques viz., spray, freeze and hot air oven (HAO) drying on yield, nutritional parameters, minerals and physicochemical and morphological characterization of wild banana pulp (Musa balbisiana Colla).
Design/methodology/approach
Contents of carbohydrate was estimated by Anthrone reagent, protein by Kjeldahl, fat by Soxhlet, dietary fiber and ash by Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), minerals by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, gross calorific value by Bomb calorimeter, moisture by moisture analyzer, water activity by water activity meter, morphological characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), statistical level of significance at p < 0.05 by ANOVA, predictive modeling by simple and multiple linear regression.
Findings
Freeze and HAO drying were standardized with matured (stage 2) and spray drying with ripe bananas (stage 6). Freeze drying showed highest yield (76.69 ± 0.15%), minerals viz., K (1175.67 ± 1.41), Fe (2.27 ± 0.09), Mg (120.33 ± 0.47), Mn (4.40 ± 0.28) mg/100 g, protein (7.53 ± 0.14%), lesser moisture (7.95 ± 0.01%), water activity (0.17 ± 0.02aw), hygroscopicity (6.37 ± 1.09%), well dispersed particles by SEM. HAO drying exhibited highest dietary fiber (18.95 ± 0.24%), gross calorific value 357.17 kcal/100 gm, higher solubility (47.22 ± 0.86%). Spray drying showed highest carbohydrate (85.29 ± 0.01%), lowest yield (28.26 ± 0.32%), required 30.5% adjuncts.
Research limitations/implications
Effect of three drying techniques and use of adjuncts were not uniform for ripe and matured bananas.
Practical implications
Commercial utilization of seeded wild banana.
Social implications
Value addition of wild banana in Assam, India
Originality/value
Freeze drying of mature wild banana pulp (M. balbisiana) was found as best technique utilizing lesser energy.
Keywords
Musa balbisiana, Wild banana, Pulp, Powder, Spray, Oven, Freeze drying, Nutritional, Physicochemical