Drying is one of the most cost-effective means of perservation of grains, crops and foods of all varieties. From both energy and environmental viewpoints, as well as the global requirement to feed the growing population, it is important that the drying technique and technology be improved to reduce spoilage and enhance the quality of the product. Much has been accomplished since the 1980s in understanding and development in drying technologies for foods and agro-products. This volume is a compilation of selected invited and refereed articles covering topics of contemporary interest on agricultural and food drying technologies.

A guide to the major food drying techniques and equipment. It features technologies for meats, fruits, vegetables, and seafood. It covers microbial issues and safety. It includes designs for drying systems and manufacturing lines, and information on microbial safety, preservation, and packaging.

Drying is an important unit operation used in the industry for processing and preservation of food products. Food industry always looks for cost effective and energy efficient drying techniques to commercially succeed in their ventures and to fulfill demand of high quality dried food products. Although a large volume of technical literature is available on drying of foods, it is still quite challenging for scientists and engineers to improve upon the existing drying systems and quality of the products. The book consists of 14 chapters detailing freeze drying, atmospheric freeze drying, swell drying, multi-flash drying, electro-hydrodynamic drying, pulse combustion drying, foam mat drying, ultrasound- assisted drying and fluidized bed drying. It also includes chapters which are commodity-specific such as mushroom drying, drying and roasting of cocoa and coffee beans. The degradation mechanism and kinetics of vitamin C degradation in fruits and vegetables, kinetics modeling of drying process for the recovery of bioactive compounds and energy calculation procedures for dryers is also covered which would be helpful to improve dryer operation and efficiency.

The goal of all drying research and development is to develop cost-effective innovative processes that yield high-quality dried products with less energy consumption and reduced environmental impact. With the literature on drying widely scattered, Advanced Drying Technologies for Foods compiles under one cover concise, authoritative, up-to-date assessments of modern drying technologies applied to foods. This book assembles a number of internationally recognized experts to provide critical reviews of advanced drying technologies, their merits and limitations, application areas and research opportunities for further development. Features: Provides critical reviews of advanced drying technologies Discusses the merits and limitations of a variety of food drying technologies Explains drying kinetics, energy consumption and quality of food products Reviews the principles and recent applications of superheated steam drying The first four chapters deal with recent developments in field-assisted drying technologies. These include drying techniques with the utilization of electromagnetic fields to deliver energy required for drying, for example, microwave drying, radio frequency drying, electrohydrodynamic drying, and infrared radiation drying. The remainder of this book covers a wide assortment of recently developed technologies, which include pulse drying, swell drying, impinging stream drying, and selected advances in spray drying. The final chapter includes some innovative technologies which are gaining ground and are covered in depth in a number of review articles and handbooks, and hence covered briefly in the interest completeness. This book is a valuable reference work for researchers in academia as well as industry and will encourage further research and development and innovations in food drying technologies.

Drying Technology in Food Processing, in the Unit Operations and Processing Equipment in the Food Industry series, explains the processing operations and equipment necessary for drying of different food products. These processes and unit operations are very important in terms of qualitative properties and energy usage. Divided into four sections, "Drying basics", "Different dryers in the food industry", "Application of drying in the food industry", and "Design, control, and efficiency of dryers", all chapters emphasize experimental, theoretical, computational and/or applications of food engineering principles and the relevant processing equipment. Written by experts in the field of food engineering, in a simple and dynamic way, this book targets industrial engineers working in the field of food processing and within food factories to make them more familiar with drying unit operations. Thoroughly explores novel applications of drying unit operations in food industries Strives to help improve the quality and safety of food products with drying technology Reviews alternatives for drying operations

Drying is by far the most useful large scale operation method of keeping solid foods safe for long periods of time, and is of fundamental importance in most sectors of food processing. Drying operations need to be precisely controlled and optimized in order to produce a good quality product that has the highest level of nutrient retention and flavor whilst maintaining microbial safety. This volume provides an up to date account of all the major drying technologies employed in the food industry and their underlying scientific principles and effects. Various equipment designs are classified and described. The impact of drying on food properties is covered, and the micro-structural changes caused by the process are examined, highlighting their usefulness in process analysis and food design. Key methods for assessing food properties of dried products are described, and pre-concentration and drying control strategies are reviewed. Thermal hazards and fire/explosion detection and prevention for dryers are discussed in a dedicated chapter. Where appropriate, sample calculations are included for engineers and technologists to follow. The book is directed at food scientists and technologists in industry and research, food engineers and drying equipment manufacturers.