Week12C2 Flashcards
What is the moisture sorption isotherm?
evaluation of the water content (%) as a function of the relative humidity of the air. So it is how a food product react to different moisture content in the air.
Give the formula that relates the Aw to the RH
Aw = RH/100
How do you measure the moisture sorption isotherm?
different salt chambers containing different salts that absorb different levels of moisture with you sample. You weight the salt before and after the experiment and the weight gain represent the moisture absorbed by the salt.
What can the moisture sorption isotherm tell you? (5)
- shows the behavior as a function of RH
- indicate the effect of temperature on the moisture content (from various graphs)
- We can know the expected Aw of a product at a specific temperature and RH (stability)
- Predict the final moisture content
- indicate the packaging requirements
What are the factors affecting the drying process?
- Pressure (vaccuum) because the boiling point is reduced
- Latent heat (enthalpy) of evaporation
- Structure of the product (example layer of fat around)
T or F : reducing the pressure means the process of drying will require less temperature difference
t
for every ____ ˚C rise in temperature, the air holds twice as much moisture in vapor form
15˚C
T or F : faster is the drying better the quality. Hence, the food product should be dried the fastest way possible
false because a hard shell that traps moisture called case hardening can occur if the drying is too fast.
T or F : dehydration temperature are not high enough to denature the enzymes so many foods are pretreated to inactivate enzymes
t
What are the ways to control the enzymatic activity?
- pasteurization
- blanching (water or steam)
- sulfiting
- sulfuring
What are the ways to control the enzymatic activity by heat?
- pasteurization
2. blanching (water or steam)
What is sulfiting?
soaking food in sodium bisulfite and a water solution for 10 ro 30 minutes to control the enzymatic activity.
What are the disadvantages of sulfiting?
- extend drying time
2. can cause allergic response for people allergic to bisulfite
What is the chemical used in sulfiting?
sodium bisulfite
What is sulfuring?
exposing the fruits to fumes from burning sulfur up to 4 hours