Post-Harvest Processing and Utilization of Sweet Potato: A Review

ABSTRACT

Sweet potato is a major root crop utilized widely for diverse food applications. Processing enables the usability of sweet potato in various forms for longer durations. Post-harvest processing of sweet potato involves grading and sorting, cleaning, peeling, drying or secondary processing and storage. Commercial utility of sweet potato is comprised of conventional and composite ingredient-based foods, starch, and industrial products. This review outlines the post-harvest processing practices and utilization of sweet potato. The present status of the sweet potato industry, processes, products, and machines, have been featured. In addition, challenging issues in the small-scale processing of sweet potato are discussed.

Abbreviations: %: percentage, °C: degree Celsius, cm: centimeter, cv: Cultivar, e.g: example, g: gram, h: hour, Hg: Mercury, Hz: hertz, kg: kilogram, kGy: kilo gray, kPa: kilopascal, kV: kilovolt, L: liter, LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein Cholesterol, m: meter, MAP: Modified Atmosphere Package, MHz: Megahertz, min: minute, mm: millimeter, mol: mole, MPa: Mega Pascal, MW: Megawatt, NaOH: Sodium hydroxide, nm: nanometer, Pa: Pascal, RH: Relative Humidity, rpm: revolutions per minute, s: second, sp: Species, t: metric ton, USA: United States of America, USDA: United States Department of Agriculture, v: volume, w: weight

KEYWORDS:

• Sorting
• grading
• cleaning
• peeling
• drying
• storage
• product development
• starch
• waste and by-products utilization

Author contributions

Vithu, P collected the data and prepared the manuscript. S.K. Dash guided the first author for the planning of the work, collection of data, and critically revised the manuscript for intellectual contents. S.K. Dash and K. Rayaguru discussed the practical difficulties in sweet potato processing and suggested future research thrusts and ideas. All authors approve the submission of this version of the manuscript.