STUDY OF MECHANICAL, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF PRODUCTS
ABSTRACT
Four varieties of cassava, namely: 91/02324, 97/4779, 98/2101 and NR87184
were processed into chips (30 x 2.0 x3.0 mm), 'abacha shreds (0.80, 1.0, 1.6 mm
thick) 'abacha' slices (0.5 mm x 60 mm) and gari. Part of the chips was
processed into 'abacha' slices and gari to compare the products with those made
from fresh roots. The mechanical properties of the products, the hydration
kinetics of the chips and the 'abacha' shreds as well as the chemical, functional,
rheological and sensory properties of the products were studied. The results
show that gari from chips and fresh cassava roots were comparable in quality in
terms of chemical and rheological properties although gari from dried chips was
rated low in sensory attributes. The pasting properties of gari from fresh cassava
roots were significantly (ppeak viscosity of gari made from 91/02324 was the highest recorded, while the
final viscosity and the trough viscosity of the product made from 98/2101 were
the highest.