Microbial and biochemical analysis of dried fish and comparative study using different drying methods

ABSTRACT

In the present study, certain quality parameters of raw and traditionally sun-dried (TSD) Bombay duck samples are compared with dried fish samples obtained from hot air dryer (HAD), freeze dryer, and a newly developed and patented solar conduction dryer (SCD). The parameters analyzed are total viable count, total fungal count, total volatile nitrogen, and trimethylamine (TMA) content and color. It is found that the experimentally dried fish have better microbial and biochemical quality as compared to TSD fish. This study addresses the issue of unhygienic open sun drying and handling of dried products and the need to adopt use of dryers based on the recently developed appropriate drying technology such as SCD which is expected to be transformed into sustainable technology.

KEYWORDS:

• Bombay duck
• dried fish
• microbial analysis
• solar conduction dryer
• total volatile nitrogen