The initial moisture content of tomato slices was 92.6 0.4 g per 100 g fresh tomato. Drying processes were halted when a final moisture content of 10 1 g per 100 g fresh tomato was reached. Total drying times were as follows: 345e390 min at 45 C; 285e315 min at 50 C; and 210e255 min at 60 C.
Drying time decreased when air velocity was increased from 0.6 to 1.2 m s1. At higher air velocities the rate of water evaporation from the food increases thus causing a reduction in drying time