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Cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) was processed into flour by fermentation, blanching, and drying. Portions of the tuber were naturally fermented for 2, 3, and 4 days, and each was oven dried at temperatures of 60, 80, and 90 C and then milled to obtain naturally fermented cassava flours. Other portions were blanched for 3, 6, 9, and 12 min, and each similarly dried at 60, 70, 80, and 90 C and milled to produce blanched cassava flour. The last portion, which formed the control, was simply sun-dried. The bulk density, gelation capacity, water absorption, swelling index, and viscosity were investigated. Blanching was found to improve the functional properties of the flour. Residual cyanide was more commonly found in blanched samples than in both the fermented and control groups. Increasing the fermentation period was found to reduce both viscosity and residual cyanide, whereas increasing the drying temperature led to more residual cyanide in the fermentation and blanched samples. Fermented samples had lower pH (higher total titrable acidity) than both control and blanched samples. The blanched samples had lower moisture content than control and fermented samples.

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This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of processing methods on the quality of abacha slices. Abacha slices were produced from cassava (TMS 97/4779) roots by four different methods. The abacha processing methods investigated were of different peeling, boiling, slicing and soaking methods. Also, raw cassava flour, which was peeled, sliced and dried (PSD) was produced. The sensory properties and yield of abacha, the chemical and physical properties of the flour from the dried abacha and raw cassava flour were determined. The sensory properties of the fresh abacha were evaluated which showed that boiled, peeled and sliced sample (BPS) was most preferred. The yield of the abacha ranged from 29.17-39.13%. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the proximate composition of the samples. The processing methods significantly affected the swelling index and water absorption capacity of the abacha flour. PSD sample showed the highest value in swelling index and water absorption capacity. The cyanide content, which ranged from 4.20-7.20 mg/kg, was below the recommended safety level of 10 mg/kg HCN. The processing methods significantly (p<0.05) affected the pasting properties of the abacha flour except peak viscosity and peak time.