Chemical and physicochemical properties of fermented flour from refrigerated cassava root and sensory properties of its cooked paste

Abstract

Efforts have been made to extend the poor shelf life of cassava roots through low-temperature storage like refrigeration, but the effects of this on lafun (fermented cassava flour) had not been investigated. This study determined the chemical composition of lafun obtained from cassava roots refrigerated for 1–3 weeks and the physicochemical and sensory properties of its cooked paste. Refrigerated storage (4°C) slightly reduced the whiteness of lafun and appearance of the cooked paste. Lafun from refrigerated cassava roots showed similar titratable acidity values (approx. 0.53%), but varying pH values (4.10–5.25). Carbohydrate was the major macro-component of lafun (approx. 84%), while calcium (40.13–60.11 mg/100 g), sodium (39.60–48.70 mg/100 g), magnesium (20.12–40.99 mg/100 g), and potassium (24.92–32.01 mg/100 g) were the major minerals. An increase in the swelling index and peak viscosity of lafun suggests an alteration in starch composition due to refrigeration. Cooked paste from lafun prepared from refrigerated cassava showed comparable quality with the control. Practical applications Refrigeration is a low-temperature method of preservation that could be used to reduce the rate of biochemical and microbiological changes during storage and hence to extend the shelf life of fresh and processed foods. This study demonstrates the possibility of extending the shelf life of cassava roots using refrigeration without significant changes in the properties of lafun and cooked paste obtained from the stored roots. Furthermore, refrigerated storage could be used by small-holder farmers through cooperatives and government interventions to store cassava roots for at least 3 weeks before use.