Drying rate period of anchovy fish will change from
the constant drying rate period to the falling drying rate
period when critical moisture content is about
48.8%-50.3% (wet basis). At these experiments, there
is no case-hardening, even at temperature of 70 °C.
Higher temperature and velocity of drying air will
shorten the time to attain the critical moisture content.
The higher temperature will reduce efficiency of the
system because the rate of water evaporation from the
surface of fish is smaller than the drying capability of
air. The drying condition itself should be modified to
obtain optimum drying condition. The optimum drying
condition can be obtained by operating the drying
process in three steps, first step is to run experiment at
70 °C for 150 min, the second is at 50 °C for next 100
min, and then the third one is at 40 °C till equilibrium
moisture content.