Quality Evaluation of Solar Tent Dried Puntius sophore and Mystus gulio of North East India

Abstract

Two commercially important small variety fish of north-east India, namely, Puntius sophore and Mystus gulio were dried using indigenously made solar tent dryer. The quality of the dried products was compared with the market sample of dry fish dried under open sun. Biochemical, microbiological and organoleptic characteristics were compared. Moisture and ash components were found higher in market sample in addition to protein and lipid degraded products. Although, bacteriological count was within the acceptable limit in both the products, fungal colonies were detected in market samples. Rehydration properties of market samples were lower than the solar tent dried products. The average temperature difference in the peak hours (12 – 3 o’clock) between outside and inside of the solar tent dryer was 9.94oC and 11.43oC while drying Puntius sophore and Mystus gulio respectively for 3 days. Sensory scores for appearance, colour, odour and texture of the solar tent dried products were above 4 in the case of both the fishes, whereas, in the case of market samples, the scores for the similar quality attributes were between 3 and 4 and were within the acceptable limit.