EFFECTS OF DRYING TECHNIQUES ON THE QUALITY OF PUNTI (Puntius sophore) AND MOLA (Amblypharyngodon mola) FISHES DRIED BY A LOW-COST SOLAR TENT DRYER AND OPEN SUN RACK DRYER

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the drying effects by open sun rack dryer and solar tent dryer on the quality changes of Punti (Puntius sophore) and Mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) fish. Quality evaluation of dried fishes was done through organoleptic, biochemical and microbiological analysis. Quality changes of Punti and Mola fishes were evaluated at fresh condition on 1 st , 3 rd and 5th days of drying. Sensory analysis showed that dried fishes from solar tent dryer were excellent as they were firm and elastic (1.23±0.22) whereas, dried fishes from open sun rack dryer had lack of firmness and elasticity (2.69± 0.01) at 5th days of drying. In fresh Punti moisture, protein, lipid, and ash content were 79.26±0.55%, 16.13±0.07%, 2.29±0.19% and 2.87±0.35%, respectively. Moisture content was significantly higher in dry Punti fish dried on open sun rack dryer but the moisture content of solar tent dryer dried Punti fish was comparatively lower on 1 st, 3rd and 5 th day of drying. Protein content was significantly higher in solar tent dryer dried fish compared to the open sun rack dryer dry fish. On the other hand, lipid content was significantly higher in open sun rack dryer dried fish compared to the solar tent dryer dried fish on 3rd and 5th days of drying. Ash content on the solar tent dryer dry fish was significantly higher than the ash content of open sun rack dryer dry fish on 1st , 3 rd and 5th days of drying. In case of fresh Mola fish, moisture, protein, lipid and ash were 80.71±0.76%, 17.47±0.45%, 1.26±0.20% and 3.23±0.11%. In solar tent dried Mola, moisture content significantly lower than the moisture content of open sun rack dryer dried Mola after 3 rd and 5th day of drying. Protein content in solar tent dried fish was significantly higher on the open sun rack dried fish whereas, ash content from open sun rack dryer was significantly lower than solar tent dried fish throughout the drying period. TVB-N content of fresh Punti was 0.09 ± 0.15%, after 1st, 3rd and 5th day of drying on open sun rack dryer. TVB-N content of dried Punti fish was 0.11± 0.01%, 0.53 ±0.05% and 0.77 ± 0.02%, respectively. On the contrary, TVB-N content from solar tent dryer dried Punti fish was 0.11±0.02%, 0.40 ±0.005% and 0.51 ±0.00%, respectively on 1st, 3rd and 5th day of drying. TVB-N content of fresh mola was 0.021±0.16%. The TVB-N content was 0.24± 0.04%, 0.63± 0.01% and 0.78±0.013% on 1st, 3rd and 5th days respectively during drying on open sun rack dryer. On the other hand, TVB-N content of dried Mola fish on solar tent dryer was 0.26±0.03%, 0.48±0.00% and 0.58±0.00%, respectively at 1 st , 3 rd and 5th day of drying. TVB-N content of Punti and Mola fish from both open sun rack and solar tent dryer were increased with the progression of time. However, on 3rd and 5 th days of fish drying, the TVB-N content were significantly higher on open sun rack dryer compared to solar tent dryer for both punti and mola fish. Microbial load of fresh Punti and Mola fish were 5.17×105CFU/g and 6.21×105 CFU/g, respectively. Both in Punti and Mola microbial load was higher on dry fish obtained from open sun rack dryer compared to the low cost solar tent dryer. The quality of the dried fish products by using solar tent drier was better compared to open sun rack dried fish products.