Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of Improvised Solar Drier for Preservation of Fish

Abstract

A study was carried out to compare the change in various quality parameters of Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus) fish under conventional sun drying and improvised solar drying method using concentrating solar (CS) technology during storage at room temperature under aerobic packaging conditions in Sunderban area of West Bengal. The results of the current study revealed that there were no significant differences in the various quality parameters of dried fish samples in both the drying methods. However a significant (p<0.05) decreasing trend in protein content, hardness and fracturability was observed with the advancing storage period. A significant (p<0.05) increase in the mean moisture content, springiness value, water activity, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances value and yeast and mould count was observed during the storage period in both the drying methods. An absence in total plate counts of dried fish samples in both methods was observed throughout the storage period.