REHYDRATION KINETICS OF DEHYDRATED BERRIES

ABSTRACT Cranberries and blueberries are small fruits known for their antioxidant properties. However, due to their high water content and short shelf life, they are generally marketed as dehydrated berries. The present work aimed to model the rehydration of dehydrated berries. Rehydration tests were conducted at 7 and 29°C using milk as a solvent and at 7, 29, and 45°C when the solvent was water. The mass gain was assessed at different intervals, and the experimental data were fitted to the Fick model considering the berries as spheres. Six empirical/semi-empirical models describing the dif...