Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate the character and quality differences in
Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne fruit powder processed under various drying conditions, providing a theoretical basis for selecting raw materials in the production of value-added products under fine classification conditions. Fresh
Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne was used as the raw material, which was sliced and color-protected before being processed into powder using different drying methods, and the physical properties and main component content differences of the powder were analyzed and compared. The results indicated that energy consumption varied among drying methods, significantly affecting the physical properties and main component content of the fruit powder. Vacuum freeze drying best preserved the color (
L* value: 79.57, Δ
E value: 4.73, WI value: 30.06) and main component content, including ascorbic acid (6.48 mg/g), carotenoids (4.19 mg/100 g), soluble protein (13.08 mg/g), total phenols (75.57 mg/g), flavonoids (214.95 mg/g), triterpenoid acids (107.14 mg/g) and tannins (81.23 mg/g). The contents of phenolic compounds, including catechin (13.17 mg/g), epicatechin (2.40 mg/g), proanthocyanidin B
1 (27.70 mg/g), and proanthocyanidin B
2 (66.99 mg/g), were also significantly higher than those in the other drying groups (
P<0.05), although its energy consumption (77.19 kW·h/kg) was the highest. Naturally dried fruit powder had the best fluidity (35.93°), significantly higher water-holding (2.45 g/g) and oil-holding (2.44 mL/g) than the rest of the drying groups (
P<0.05), with better dilution and brewing properties, and the ascorbic acid and soluble protein contents were second only to the vacuum freeze-dried fruit powder. Hot-air dried fruit powder had high contents of total acid (10.28%) and total sugar (170.97 mg/g), as well as the highest levels of malic acid (56.26 mg/g) and sorbitol (98.64 mg/g). The total phenols, flavonoids, and tannins were second only to those in vacuum freeze-dried powder. In conclusion, vacuum freeze-dried
Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne powder is best suited for high-value medical and health products, natural dried powder is ideal for liquid beverage processing, and hot-air dried powder is recommended for solid or semi-solid food applications.