Storage of Guava Fruit and Osmotic-Air Dehydrated Guava Powder

Freshly harvested guava fruits (Lucknow-49) packed in 25 and 50 of LDPE bags with 3% O2+5% CO2, 6% O2+5% CO2, 9% O2+5% CO2 gas concentration and stored at 5 10C and 10 10C temperature. The shelf life of guava increased up to 42 days by packing in 50μ LDPE bags at 9% O2+5% CO2 gas concentration and 100C temperature. The cost of packaging of guava fruit per kg was estimated Rs. 4.83 with net profit 11.17 Rs/kg. The guava slices (10 mm) immersed in 50, 60 and 700Brix sucrose solutions with sample to solution ratio 1:5 (w/w) at room temperature and 500C for 6 h and 12 h and dried in a single layer in a tray dryer at 60 20C and 2.5 m/s air velocity. Dried guava slices were grinded and sieved by 300 mesh sieves to obtain powder. The 600Brix sucrose solution, 6 h immersion time and 500C process temperature showed best quality of powder. The best quality powder was packed in 50 LDPE, HDPE, PP, ALPE pouch with nitrogen gas and in glass bottle and stored at room temperature. The dehydrated guava powder was stored up to 8 months in nitrogen gas filled ALPE pouch. The cost of preparation and packaging per kg of guava powder was estimated to be Rs. 303.12 with net profit of 216.70 Rs/kg.