Project report for Hot air dry vegetables

Food drying is a method of food preservation in which food is dried (dehydrated or desiccated). Drying inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and mold through the removal of water. In India, Dehydration has been used widely for this purpose since ancient times. Water is traditionally removed through evaporation (air drying, sun drying, smoking or wind drying), although today electric food dehydrators or freeze-drying can be used to speed the drying process and ensure more consistent results. Air drying is a process of removing moisture content from various food items in order to extend their shelf life and prevent bacterial contamination. Air drying is based on the principle of evaporation in which water is removed with the help of heated air. Different techniques such as hot air drying, microwave drying, twin stage air drying, etc. are used in this process. Air dried food retains most of the appearance and color with respect to original food products. As moisture content is significantly reduced, it aids in preventing growth of bacteria responsible for food spoilage thereby extending shelf life of food products. Most of the nutritional value of these food products remain intact and no extra preservatives or colors are added during the process of air drying. Drying or dehydration is one of the most ancient and traditional methods of preserving food, and it helps remove any extra moisture as to prevent any spoilage or decay. The foods can be dehydrated using the advanced dehydrators of today and this method makes for a great way or enjoying produce when they are out of season. This is an awesome alternative to freezing or canning foods.

Rapidly growing packaging sector will trigger the air-dried food market growth over the upcoming years. These products are widely incorporated for making downstream packaged food items. Rising population and increasing disposable income levels have led to the increased consumption of packaged foods over the past few years. Due to lifestyle changes and busy schedules, people do not get enough time to prepare meals. Hence, they are opting for less time-consuming options such as packaged foods in recent times. Such trends will boost the air-dried food industry over the forecast period.

The food industry is witnessing a substantial growth over the last decade. Dehydrated fruits & vegetables are in high demand among the food processors, owing to the advantage of their out of season availability. The significant factor driving the growth of the dehydrated fruits & vegetables market is the increased shelf life of the product. Increased vegan population and intake of fruits & vegetables for nutrition, are boosting the growth of the market. The development of the food technology is also adding fuel to the growth of the market. The hectic lifestyles of the people, coupled with the changing dietary patterns of the consumers, further are expected to propel the demand for the dehydrated fruits & vegetables, in future. Also, growth of organized retail industry is also one of the factors expected to increase the growth of dehydrated fruits & vegetables market during the forecast period.