Sample preparation Three mature fruits were randomly selected from each 20 pumpkin fruit access ions. The fruits
were washed, peeled and chopped into uniform strips of
2.54 cm. The fiber and seed were scraped off. The peeled
strip was then cut into uniform slabs of 40 m m length,
20 mm width and then sliced into 5 mm thickness
(Are’valo-Pinedo and Fernanda 2006 ). Pumpkin slices were
weighed and blanched in water at 60 °C blanching temperature for 1 min in a constant temperature hot water bath.
After blanching, the samples were drained and the slices
were spread for drying (O ’ Dell 1999 ). On the other hand,
other groups of pumpkin slices were weighed and then
dipped in a 10 % salt solution for 10 min. The slices were
drained well and spread for drying using two drying
conditions ( oven and uncontrolled sun drying) (Mayoret al. 2006 ).