Conclusions
The application of high hydrostatic pressure or high intensity electrical field pulse pre-treatments could induce cell permeabilisation and resulted in increased drying rates as well as increased heat and mass transfer during constant rate drying. These pre-treatments could be alternatives to chemical pre-treatments and contribute to minimising environmental pollution from chemicals. The total drying time following these pre-treatments was also reduced. Blanching of paprika was also found to be effective as compared to these physical pre-treatments, but leaching and destruction of nutrients and subsequent nutritional as well as environmental effects are considered to be major drawbacks of this conventional pre-treatment.