BACKGROUND: Terminalia ferdinandiana, common name Kakadu plum (KP), fruit is a valuable source of vitamin C, and its concentration can be used as a quality index of KP products, such as dried fruit powder. The present study investigated the effects of two drying methods (freeze-drying and oven-drying) and the addition of maltodextrin (0–25%) on vitamin C, Maillard products, and overall quality of KP fruit powder.

RESULTS: Freeze-drying was a better dehydration technique than oven-drying in retaining vitamin C, reducing the formation of non-enzymatic browning and oxidation products, and improving powder colour (P < 0.05). Non-enzymatic browning products (furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural) were generated in the oven-dried samples as a function of heating and high water activity. Maltodextrin acted as a vitamin C stabilizer in protecting vitamin C from oxidation, and significantly improved the colour attributes of the final dry products. Incorporation of 10–15% maltodextrin could reduce the percentage loss of vitamin C from 8.1% to 3.4% and 18.9% to 11.4% (compared with the control) during freeze-drying and oven-drying, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs revealed differences in the microstructures of the KP powder processed by the two drying methods with different levels of maltodextrin. Multivariate data analysis (principal component analysis) showed separation between the oven-dried and freeze-dried samples, and also suggested that addition of maltodextrin of 7.5–10% and 10–15% are effective for preserving vitamin C and other quality properties of the freeze‑ and oven-dried KP powder samples, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The results obtained are important for the KP industry, including Indigenous enterprises, in selecting the most appropriate drying method for KP fruit in terms of quality and sustainability.