Drying Characteristics of Freshwater Fish (Coilia dussumieri) using Solar Tunnel Dryer

An experiment was carried out to study the drying characteristics of a locally available, low-value and underutilized freshwater fish (Coilia dussumieri), commonly known as Monangu, using solar tunnel dryer. Samples were treated with salt (25% w/w) for 1 h to improve the shelf life of the dried product. Salt treatment reduced the initial moisture content of fresh fish from 271.08% (d.b.) to 153.16% (d.b.). Salt treated and control fish samples were dried in a solar tunnel dryer and under open sun. Drying time for salt-treated fish samples was 13 h (27.77% less) in solar tunnel dryer as against 18 h in open yard sun drying. The fish samples were dried up to the safe moisture content (below 10% (d.b.)). The biochemical and microbiological analysis of dried fish revealed that the salt treated fish dried in solar tunnel dryer had superior quality compared to other treatments.