Changes in the quality of sweet potato during hot air drying, such as L-ascorbic acid, sugar content, surface color and hardness, and drying characteristics, were investigated at temperatures of 30, 40, 50, and 60°C. Equilibrium moisture contents (EMC) of sweet potato samples in the desorption process were measured by a static method at the four aforementioned temperatures and six selected relative humidity levels. Using both the measured moisture content data in the drying test and the EMC values, hot air drying characteristics of sweet potato was estimated. Changes in L-ascorbic acid content of sweet potato during hot air drying was measured, wherein a first-order reaction rate equation was applied to model the change in decomposition of L-ascorbic acid content. In addition, surface color, sugar content, and surface hardness were also measured. The total color change (?E) of the samples was observed to decrease as drying temperature was increased. The effects of sample sugar concentration on surface hardening during hot air drying of sweet potato are discussed.
Bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) harvested from two cultivation areas were used to investigate the amount of accumulated sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) in four sections along the length of a bamboo shoot. Bamboo shoots harvested from above ground (emerged bamboo shoot) and underground of the same cultivation area were also used to study the changes in sugar content during storage at both 5 and 25 °C. The amounts of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and total sugar of underground bamboo shoots were higher than those of emerged shoots. Sucrose content in the apical section was significantly higher than that in other sections. Meanwhile, higher amounts of glucose, fructose, and total sugar (the sum of sucrose, glucose, and fructose) were observed in the basal section. Changes in sugar content were also observed during storage. The fresh, unpeeled bamboo shoots have particular cellular chemical properties and respond differently to storage duration and condition depending on harvest maturity.
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