Solar drying on meat strips using closed-type, natural convection tent and cabinet solar dryers

Abstract

Two types of solar dryers were examined for use in the drying of meat strips under hot-humid climatic conditions. 10 x 10mm. meat strips dried faster and stored better than 20 x 20mm., meat strips when stored under room conditions in aerobically sealed plain low-density polyethylene bags during a 6 week storage period. The solar cabinet dryer (SCD) proved marginally better than the solar tent dryer (STD) in the rate of moisture reduction in meat strips. Pre-immersion of meat strips in 5 per cent sodium chloride solution prior to drying adversely affected the overall moisture reduction in drying meat strips over a 70 hour drying period, and subsequently resulted in a shortened storage life of the dried product during storage. Gelatine solution coating and hot wood smoking treatment of solar dried meat strips resulted in extended shelf life of the dried meat strips over a 6-month storage period under room storage conditions. Sensory evaluation on dried meat strips cooked in a traditional Ghanaian light soup indicated better flavour and acceptability than when cooked in ordinary water