Background
Fish is an extremely perishable food item and required preservation for future uses. Several preservation methods are followed over the world for preserving fish. Aim of all these methods is same- to extend the shelf-life of fish so that the fish can be used in future properly. One of these methods is “drying” which is the oldest known method of preserving perishable food items including fish.
Terms of Fish Drying
Generally two terms are now being commonly used in drying of fish: “sun drying” and “Dehumidifying”.
In Sun drying this process is carried out by exposing target fish directly under the sun. This is usually done in the open air using solar energy to evaporate the water content in the fish. Natural air carried away the evaporated water from fish body.
Dehumidifying, almost same as sun drying, except that this process is practiced under controlled operational parameters like air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity etc. Common practice is to dry fish in an enclosure provided with facilities to control these parameters.
Disadvantages of Sun Drying
Though drying has some positive sides, but it has some disadvantages too. The major problem of sun drying is efficiency and quality of final product remains at the mercy of nature (i.e. operational parameters). In improper sun drying, dried product suffers from many disadvantages. Some of these problems are:
- This process is can only be carried out when bright sunlight is available. Also no control over the operational parameters.
- Long duration required. Sometimes under unfavorable operational parameters it takes several days to complete which affects the quality of final product.
- In sun drying, possibility of contamination with dust, sand; infestation with insects, their eggs and larvae is high.
- Shelf life of the final product is not too long and poor quality final product is produced in most cases.
Advantages of Dehumidifying
In Dehumidifying process, as drying is carried out under controlled environment, most of the disadvantages faced in “sun drying” can be overcome and desired quality of final product can be maintained. Dehydrated product has comparatively long shelf-life than sun dried product.
KAWASIMA Dehumidifier Feature
- Constant temperature & RH drying air supply
- Accurate Temperature & RH Control
- Clean Stainless Steel Internal & External Body
- Energy Saving Design & Program
- Flexible design, standard monoblock type/package type