Resumen

AQUINO, Laura V; RODRIGUEZ, Juan; MENDEZ, Lilia L  y  TORRES, Kenia F. Inhibition the Darkening with Cactus Mucilage (Opuntia ficus indica) during Drying of Banana Roatán. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2009, vol.20, n.4, pp. 15-20. ISSN 0718-0764.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-07642009000400003.

The object of this study was inhibiting the browning process during the drying of banana Roatán (Musa Cavendish) using a solution of cactus mucilage (Opuntia ficus indica) blend with different concentrations of citric acid and sodium bisulphite. The treatment was applied following an experimental design 2³, using the following factors and levels: pre-treatment (mucilage, citric acid, sodium bisulphate) and concentration (high and low). For the drying cross sections of banana with thickness of 5 mm, temperature of 50 °C and air velocity of 2 ms^-1 were used. Color before and after drying was determined and was consider as the response variable. The combination of mucilage, citric acid and sodium bisulphite at high concentrations had a synergic effect that diminished the browning of bananas during drying. The mucilage formed an edible coating in the surface that gives shine to the dried material.

Palabras clave : banana Roatán; cactus mucilage; browning; mucilage; pre-treatment.