A Study on Quality Properties of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.) Fruit Powder Obtained by Different Drying Treatments

Kirklareli University, Engineering Faculty, Food Engineering Department, 39100, Kirklareli, Türkiye

^* Corresponding author: recepgunes@klu.edu.tr

Abstract

In this study, the quality characteristics of blackthorn fruit (Prunus spinosa L.) powders obtained by convective hot air-drying (HAD) and freeze-drying (FD) treatments were investigated. The drying time was carried out equally (24 h) for both treatments. According to the results, the moisture (%) and water activity of powder samples obtained by HAD and FD treatments were found as 7.51% and 0.2471, 9.13% and 0.2718, respectively. Considering the pH and total ash parameters, there was no statistically significant difference between the powder samples (p>0.05). However, both drying processes were effective on the color and changed the L*, a*, and b* values of the powders compared to fresh fruit values. The biological and antioxidant results of the powder obtained by FD treatment were higher than the HAD treatment (p<0.05). From this point of view, it was determined that the FD process had a minimal effect on the chemical content of fresh fruit, while the HAD technique applied at 40 °C combined with a fan system did not have an excessive negative effect on these values.