Oranges: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy

Abstract

This paper attempts to discuss about the need of drying agricultural products and the various methods used for drying agricultural products. Drying is one of the oldest methods for preserving agricultural products. Drying process theoretically requires approximately 2.4 MJ energy for every one litre of water to evaporate. Many of our food crops are 80-90% water and most of this needs to be removed for long term storage. In practice, most of the dryers used have an operating efficiency of less than 50% and this indicates that significant amounts of energy are used in this post-harvest activity. Open air sun drying of agricultural products is the traditional method employed in most of the developing countries. Sun drying is used to denote the exposure of a commodity to direct solar radiation and the convective power of the natural wind. Drying is cheapest and most common method of preservation and storing of agricultural products.