Effects of pretreatments on the quality of open‐air and solar dried apricots

Apricots, pretreated with SO 2 gas, sodium‐meta‐bisulfite or SO 2 gas/ ethyl oleate, were open‐air or solar dried. Increasing initial SO 2 concentrations, ranging from 3600 to 10100 mg/kg dry matter, increased the drying rates depending on the type of the pretreatment and the drying method. In the range 47–74% of the initially available SO 2 is lost during drying. Hunter L (lightness) and +b (yellowness) values of SO 2 gas treated‐dried apricots were slightly larger than those of others. Ethyl oleate treatment, in addition to SO 2 gas, accelerated both the drying and browning rates (decreasing Hunter L value). In general, Hunter +a (redness) increased upon drying of apricots.