3.3.2.2. Soluble solids gain. Fig. 2 shows the percentage of
soluble solids gain during the osmotic dehydration process of papaya
samples. All evaluated treatments for green and rippened
papayas, presented an increment in the values of soluble solids
gain. It was observed that coated papaya samples with emulsion
presented a minor soluble solids gain than papaya samples without
coating.
In the case of the treatments with coated papaya, the solids
accumulation on the coatings surface, limited its penetration inside
the fruits, which it did not happen in samples without coatings,
where a great amount of solubles penetrated inside the
fruits (Díaz, 2003). The solid accumulation, together with the use
of coatings, may create a crust which constitutes a barrier to mass
transfer, limiting the dehydration regime and consequently the
solubles gain. The above assumptions could explain the difference
of dehydration regimes and material transfer between the coated
and uncoated papaya samples.