Application of dehydro freezing technology on extension of shelf life of red beet

Application of combined technology can reduce the disadvantages of each other as compare to their individual process. Osmotic process along with hot air drying and freezing were applied on red beet pieces in this investigation. red beet divided to slices as well as cubes pieces before treatment with citric and ascorbic acids in two levels of 0.1 and 0.3 percent. red beet slices were semi dried in cabinet drier for period of 75 minutes and cubes for 115 minutes and then were placed into polyethylene bags for prior to freezing process in freezer with -25◦C. Different physicochemical characteristics such as acidity, water activity, image processing and texture were evaluated after 2 hour and 30 days. Statistical analysis of data with completely randomized design and SPSS software version 20 during one month preservation showed that cubes pieces of red beet in 0.3 percent of acid solution along with osmotic dehydration has the best and comparable texture, color and quality characteristics as compared to the fresh red beet.