Infrared drying as a potential alternative to convective drying for biltong production


Submitted: 13 November 2015
Accepted: 23 April 2016
Published: 6 July 2016
Abstract Views: 1705
PDF: 741
HTML: 350
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

  • Kipchumba Cherono Bioresources Engineering Research Group, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
  • Gikuru Mwithiga Bioresources Engineering Research Group, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
  • Stefan Schmidt Department of Microbiology, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Two infrared systems set at an intensity of 4777 W/m2 with peak emission wavelengths of 2.5 and 3.5 μm were used to produce biltong by drying differently pre-treated meat. In addition to meat texture and colour, the microbial quality of the biltong produced was assessed by quantifying viable heterotrophic microorganisms using a most probable number (MPN) method and by verifying the presence of presumptive Escherichia coli in samples produced using infrared and conventional convective drying. The two infrared drying systems reduced the heterotrophic microbial burden from 5.11 log10 MPN/g to 2.89 log10 MPN/g (2.5 μm) and 3.42 log10 MPN/g (3.5 μm), respectively. The infrared systems achieved an up to one log higher MPN/g reduction than the convective system. In biltong samples produced by short wavelength (2.5 μm) infrared drying, E. coli was not detectable. This study demonstrates that the use of short wavelength infrared drying is a potential alternative to conventional convective drying by improving the microbiological quality of biltong products while at the same time delivering products of satisfactory quality.

Kipchumba Cherono, Bioresources Engineering Research Group, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg
Bioresources Engineering

Supporting Agencies

The research office of the University of KwaZulu-Natal

1.
Cherono K, Mwithiga G, Schmidt S. Infrared drying as a potential alternative to convective drying for biltong production. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2016 Jul. 6 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];5(3). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/5625

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations