Production proximate analysis and shelf life studies of ready-to-eat rice and kilishi

Abstract

Accelerated shelf life studies (50 ± 2°C, 27 ± 2°C) were carried out on meal -ready-to-eat (RTE) rice and “Kilishi” which were prepared and packaged in aluminum foil and high density polyethylene (50 µm gauge). Chemical, microbiological and proximate analysis of the product was carried out to ascertain the quality and safety of the meal. Total microbial load of the product at accelerated shelf life ranged from 2 x 102 - 4 x 102 CFU/g. FFA values, a measure of rancidity, were in the range of 1.2 and 2.1%. Proximate composition of Kilishi was: moisture (9.75), fat (18.10), ash (7.10), protein (57.02) and carbohydrate (8.05); and rice, moisture (10.8), fat (4.0) ash (3.3) protein (7.4) and carbohydrate (74.0). Also proximate analysis showed that rice and Kilishi are nutritionally complementary. Key words: Kilishi, rice, convenience, proximate composition, shelf life.