Utilization of Solar Dryer for Drying of Cashew Kernels

• Published in: Environment and ecology Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 691 - 695
• Main Authors: Kad, V P, Dhemre, J K, Nimbalkar, C A, Patil, A P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Anacardium; Anacardium occidentale
• ISSN: 0970-0420

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is one of the important tropical crops. It is called as the "poor man's crop, rich man's food". Processing of cashewnut is the recovery of the kernel (edible meat portion) from raw nuts by mechanical or manual means. It consists of moisture conditioning, roasting, shelling, drying, peeling, grading and packing. The drying process removes moisture and helps in the preservation of the product. In open sun drying the disadvantages associated are that process is slow and insects, dusts may get mixed with the product. The use of solar dryer helps to eliminate theses disadvantages. Drying is done faster and in controlled fashion by keeping quality of products. Shelled kernels were dried in direct solar dryer using solar energy for a single day for five hours. The experiment was carried out to study the utilization of solar energy for cashew kernel drying. The cashew kernels treated at 110[degrees]C for 20 minutes gives best organoleptic properties when it is dried in solar dryer for five hours gives best results. Solar drying can be successfully used for cashew kernel drying by using solar dryer. It is less expensive and helps in increasing the quality enrichment of the cashew kernels.