Drying tests of half pineapple slices at 45, 60 and 75◦
C were
carriedout. Values ofthemoisture content between720±60g
of water by 100g of product (in fresh fruit) and 43±18g of
water by 100g of product (in dry fruit), and drying times
between 150 and 430min, were found. Dimensionless moisture content (W/W0) during pineapple drying is shown in
Fig. 1a (W0 is the moisture content of fresh fruit and W is
themoisture content attime t).The temperature effect onthe
behavior of dehydration rate (water extracted in a time interval divided this time interval [gwater/100g dry matter / min])
as a function of drying time can be observed in Fig. 1b. As it
can be seen, the constant rate drying period was absent in
the dehydrationof pineapple slices under these experimental
conditions.