Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
10-04
Moisture Content:
Dehydrated fruits
Introduction
Water is a component of many
things within the
world. Food also contains water.
There are a total
of three types of water within food;
free or bulk
water, trapped or capillary water, and
bound water.
Free or bulk water can easily be removed from the food since the water molecule is
surrounded by the other water molecule. Trapped or capillary water is a little bit
harder to remove than the free water. The water is trapped in physical barrier, or a
small tube which prevent the water from escaping. Bound water is the hardest to
remove. The water molecule is bonded to other substance or another water
molecule, which make it hard to be removed.
The moisture content or the amount of water in a material can be calculated
using a formula. The formula is to get the mass of water and to divide it by the
initial mass of the wet sample and multiply it by 100.
Moisture content (%) = m(H2O) x 100
m(initial)
or
Moisture content (%) = m(wet) - m(dry) . x 100
m(wet)
This lab experiment will prove that water contains food. Itll show the difference
between food that contains water and food that doesnt.
Itll help with understanding the moisture content formula better, by acting as a
practice. Also, doing the experiment is a fun and easy to understand way to learn.
Moisture Content:
Dehydrated fruits
Materials
1) Cutting board
8) dishwashing soap
2) Chinese pear
9) Sponge
3) Wax paper
4) Tissue
5) Dehydrator
6) Knife
7) Electronic balance
Procedure
1. Obtain the fruit sample.
2. Cut the Chinese pear into thin and equal pieces, at least one piece per group
member.
3. Cut the wax paper to fit the size of the fruit sample.
4. Place the fruit sample onto the wax paper. Use the electronic balance to find:
4.1)Mass of paper
4.2)Mass of fruit
4.3)Mass of paper with fruit
5. Record the mass into the data table.
6. Observe the fruit sample. (ex: size, thickness, smell, texture)
7. Put the fruit sample into the dehydrator, making sure that the fruit samples are
spaced apart.
8. Leave the fruit sample in the dehydrator for 24 hours.
9. Obtain the dried fruit sample from the dehydrator.
10. Mass the sample, both with and without paper. Record the mass into the table.
11. Observe the dehydrated fruit sample. Compare the characteristic to the original
sample.
12. Calculate the moisture content by using the moisture content formula.
13. Find the average moisture content percentage of the fruit and compare it to the
others fruits.
Moisture Content:
Dehydrated fruits
Data
Data table: Mass used in
moisture content
calculating and
Name of the
Group Member
Mass of sample
before
dehydration (g)
Mass of sample
Moisture Content
after dehydration (%)
(g)
Bee1
22.90
3.82
83.32
Folk
22.53
3.44
84.73
Kimmy
28.84
4.82
83.28
Max
23.36
3.75
83.23
Moisture Content:
Dehydrated fruits
Moisture Content:
Dehydrated fruits
4 How did the average moisture
content of the
other fruit samples compare to your
group?
Ans: The average moisture content
of other fruit
samples are 70.87% (Avocado),
81.99% (Dragon
fruit), 83.47% (Kiwi), 81.30%
(Mango),
71.64% (Banana). My groups fruit samples are Chinese pear with the average
moisture content of 83.64% which has the largest percentage compared to other
groups in my class.
5 Why did some samples dehydrate more efficiently than others? (For within your
group and also between different groups)
Ans: Because some fruit samples have more water than others. Chinese pear has
the most amount of water in them compare to avocado, dragon fruit, kiwi, mango
and banana. Avocado has the least amount of water. Also, the texture and size of
the sample does matter. In some texture, itll be easier to dehydrate than other.
Small and thin sample are dehydrated more efficiently than the big and thick ones.
6 Research advantages and disadvantages to dehydrated food products and
explain. Include APA citations.
Ans: Advantages of dehydrated food products are making the food last longer so
they dont have to use preservatives and chemical additives making them safer,
prevent bacteria growth. They shrink so they weigh less which reduces
transportation costs and it increased amount of product per container. They are
great emergency food and also create new flavor. Even Though there are so many
good things about dehydrated food products, there are also many bad things too.
Some disadvantages of dehydrated food products are they are high in calories,
sugar and sodium. They lose some nutrients. They sometimes dont taste fresh and
dehydrated food products in supermarkets are more expensive than normal food
Moisture Content:
Dehydrated fruits
Conclusion
The result of this lab turns out
well. We can
clearly observe the changes in the
sample after we
dehydrate it and most of the
members
moisture content are precise. In this lab, we learned the process in making
dehydrated fruit and how to use the moisture content formula. Also, we learned
how to make good observations during the lab too. The error in this experiment is
some of the parts of the sample is not completely dehydrated. The smell of the
dehydrated sample might have been affected by other kind of fruit in the
dehydrator too, since the dehydrated sample have the smell that is banana-like. To
improve this lab experiment to be better and more accurate, more time is needed to
dry the sample completely. Also, we may separate the sample from other kinds of
fruit in order to prevent any changes in smell.
Bibliography
Mary, B.(n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from
http://www.drystore.com/FoodDehydrationFAQ.html
Allison, Sammi,Gill. (n.d.). Advantages and disadvantages. Retrieved from
https://sites.google.com/a/monroeps.net/dehydrationsag/advantages-disadvantages
Riverwalker. (2008, December 20). Types of food storage-Dehydrated Foods.
Retrieved from http://stealthsurvival.blogspot.com/2008/12/types-of-food-storagedehydrated-foods.html
Tonya, Y.(n.d.). The Disadvantages of Dehydrated Foods. Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/list_6855228_disadvantages-dehydrated-foods.html
Moisture Content:
Dehydrated fruits
Work log
Name
Section of work
Bee1
Introduction, data
Yes
Folk
Discussion question
Yes
Kimmy
Discussion question
Yes
Max
Conclusion, material,
prodcedure
Yes