Drying Kinetics of Agaricus Bisporus and Pleurotus Florida Mushrooms

Mushrooms are consumed as a source of protein throughout the world. In this article, the drying kinetics of twospecies of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus florida) has been reported. Mushrooms were blanched in boilingwater for 1 min and immersed in solution containing 0.1% citric acid and 0.25% potassium metabisulfite for 15 min at roomtemperature. Treated mushrooms were dried in a tray dryer at selected temperatures (45.C, 50.C, 55.C, 60.C, and 65.C).Results indicated that drying took place in the fallingrate period, and the drying kinetics was adequately described by Pagesmodel. The process activation energy for drying equaled 19.79 and 23.59 kJ/mol, respectively, for Agaricus bisporus andPleurotus florida.