Utilization Of Banana in the Development of Nutrient Rich Banana Bar

Abstract

The fruit banana, is produced on a large scale in the country. Banana is consumed as fresh and also in processed forms such as figs, snack foods and chips. But being highly perishable in nature, there is a strong need to minimize the huge post harvest losses of this important fruit. Today, bananas and plantains are best known as a food crop, almost every part of the plant can be used in one way or another, this may explain, why in India the banana is popularly known as “kalpataru”, meaning “herb with all imaginable uses”. Bananas also known as “The fruit eaten by wise men” is because, for it’s both cheap and full of nutrients, are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Research has proven that, just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder, the banana is the number one fruit with the World’s leading athletes. In this regard, the pulp banana is used for preparation of banana bar. The pulp of banana with higher amount of water, and required amount of soluble fiber is selected. Musa Paradisica of Indian origin species is generally the wide distributed variety, used all over the country and it is used in the preparation of slab/bar. Finely grinded and sieved sugar, which has less granule size, is used in the preparation of slab/bar.