There are number of advantages of the osmotic dehydration process.
1. It minimizes the effect of temperature on food quality and preserves the wholeness of the food, as no
high temperature/phase change is required in the process.
2. Mild heat treatment favours colour and flavour retention resulting in the product having superior
organoleptic characteristics. It is more when sugar syrup is used as osmotic agent.
3. IT increases resistance to heat treatment
4. The process is quite simple, economical (energy requirement is 2-3 times less as compared to the
conventional drying.
5. It prevents the enzymatic browning and inhibits activities of polyphenol oxidases.
6. It improves the texture and rehydration properties
7. The blanching process may be eliminated by this process, which reduces cost of processing
8. Acid removal and sugar uptake by fruits modifies the composition and improves the taste and
acceptability which is called candying effect
9. The process could prove to be good for production of the ready to eat foods such as raisins etc.
10. The process reduces volume of the products thereby saving in the cost of processing, storage and
transport
11. Constant immersion of product in osmotic agents avoids the O2 exposure, the product retains better
colour
12. It protects against the structural collapse of the product during subsequent drying. It helps to retain the
shape of the dehydrated products