Effect of partial dehydration on quality of canned potatoes

During commercial sterilization, mild to severe breakage of individual potatoes sometimes occurs and the outer layers of potatoes disintegrate into a floury texture referred to as sloughing. Four cultivars of potatoes namely Kufri Badshah, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Chandramukhi and HPS-1/13 were either treated with CaCl₂ or dehydrated before canning to reduce the sloughing. The extent of sloughing in terms of breakage observed visually depended on the cultivar of potatoes. Although CaCl₂ treatment reduces sloughing, it causes turbidity of the brine. Partial dehydration of potatoes before canning was helpful in reducing sloughing and it allowed a higher filling of potato solids in the can thereby increasing drained weight. HPS-1/13 cultivar was found most suitable for dehydrocanning.