COMPARATIVE PUMPKIN (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) DRYING STUDY VARYING METHOD AND PREPARATION OF THE SAMPLE

The work was based on laboratory studies to obtain drying curves of samples of anco variety pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.), evaluation and comparison of them. The samples were analyzed in three presentations: crushed, grated into irregular strands and into pieces of cylindrical shape, subjecting them to drying in thermobalance and stove by natural convection both at 65 degrees C, controlling the evolution of weight by gravimetric method. The drying curves in all cases showed a similar trend. The observed results showed a good adjustment to the three semi-empirical models proposed, Page, Midili and Parabolic, for each one of the representative parameters of the same in all the humidity range of the product. In thermobalance the shortest drying time was for the sample in strands (grated) and in the stove for presentation in cylinder.