Effect of Ultrasound and Osmotic Dehydration as Pretreatments on the Infrared Drying of Banana Slices.

Research Background: There is a growing interest in foods with added nutritional value and extended shelf life. This study investigates the use of infrared technology in the drying of banana slices to improve their stability and quality by minimizing moisture content and water activity.

Experimental Approach: The drying experiments were carried out at a temperature of 70 °C, using the following pretreatments: ultrasound-assisted (UA) immersion in water for 20 and 30 min, osmotic dehydration (OD) and ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration (UAOD) for 20, 30 and 40 min.