Abstract:
-Traditional methods of preserving fish in Ghana is
by smoking or drying, but open-air drying exposes fishes to
contaminants resulting in poor quality products. The study was
conducted to investigate the effect of using six different locally
constructed solar dryers on the nutritional qualities of unsalted
tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The experiment was carried out
in March and April and repeated in June through July at the
Department of Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation of
the University of Education, Winneba (Mampong-Ashanti). The
solar panels were constructed using hard wood, nails, nylon net,
chicken mesh and black and white polyethylene sheets. Eight
samples of whole tilapia (265 - 315 g) were arranged in each
panel in a completely randomised design. Solar panels recorded
45.4oC while the control panel (open air) recorded 34.0oC.
Drying was completed by the fifth day but much more effective in
the solar panels than the control. Tilapia in solar panels recorded
less moisture but higher concentrations of nutrients on dry basis
(db) than open-air dried salted tilapia. The solar-dried tilapia
(db) recorded 8.44 to 14.76% moisture, 68.17- 75.98% protein,
6.21- 6.95% fat and 9.08-10.34% ash. Bacteria identified and
isolated were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp and
Salmonella spp. with 2.322 log10cfu/g and mould count of 3.015
log10cfu/g. The highest sensory attribute scores were recorded in
solar-dried tilapia, followed by fresh, frozen and dried salted
tilapia. Fish mongers should be encouraged to solar-dry their
catch to protect already depleted forests and preserve fish at
reduced costs to maximise profits and improve upon standards of
living.
Key words: Rate Of Drying, Sensory Analysis, Solar Dryer,
Tilapia, Total Viable Count.
