Effect of Processing Temperature on Storage Quality of In-Shell Hazelnut

Background: Drying is the one of the oldest methods for increasing the shelf life of food products. The objective of the present study was evaluation of effect of different drying temperatures on drying time and storage quality parameters of in-shell hazelnut. Methods: Hazelnuts were dried as a thin layer at three temperatures (40, 50, and 60 °C). The time required for drying and quality parameters (lipid and protein content, acidity, and peroxide value) were evaluated. Besides, sensory and oxidation evaluations were performed in order to evaluate the effect of the drying temperatures on quality of hazelnuts before and after 6-month storage. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (V. 16.0). Results: The mean drying times at 40, 50, and 60 °C were 29.75, 25, and 20.25 h, respectively. In fact, an inverse significant (p