A study was conducted to investigate the effect of solute concentration (50, 60 and 70degrees Brix) and temperature (32, 50 and 60degreesC) on osmotic dehydration of papaya. The dehydration rate of papaya cubes (6.58 kg water/kg dry matter) were reduced from 2.12 to 0.3, 2.38 to 0.31 and 2.92 to 0.54 kg water/h/kg dry matter during osmosis in first half an hour to fourth hour with the sugar syrup concentration of 50, 60 and 70degrees Brix, respectively at 32degreesC temperatures. The dehydration rates of papaya cubes were reduced from 2.38 to 0.31, 3.16 to 0.29 and 4.17 to 0.44 kg water/h/kg dry matter during osmosis In first half an hour to fourth hour at 32, 50 and 60degreesC temperatures, respectively at 60degrees Brix sugar syrup concentration. The overall drying rate of papaya by convective drying followed by osmotic dehydration was more (0.528 kg water/h/kg dry matter) than the one dried by convective method (0.318 kg water/h/kg dry matter). The osmotic (60degrees Brix, 60degreesC) - air (60degreesC) drying method saved 8 h in drying papaya from 6.58 to 0.24 kg water/kg dry matter as compared to the one dried by air drying (60degreesC) method.
