The reduction in mechanical strength and thickness of skin during
freezing/thawing increased the permeability of the skin layer and
facilitated heat and moisture transfer during drying. The observed
reduction in sample volume during freezing/thawing also decreased
the distance travelled by heat and free water from the inside to the
surface of the material. Thus, freezing/thawing pretreatment
significantly influenced the drying time and specific energy consumption
of drying (Table 2). Initial freezing/thawing decreased
drying time (by up to 29%) and specific energyconsumption (by upto
27%) in comparison with drying without pretreatment