The effect of drying temperature on the time required to reach the final moisture content of 9.5±0.2 (w.b.) is shown in
Fig. 1. As expected, the moisture content decreased considerably with increasing drying temperature. The time required to
reduce the moisture content to any given level was dependent on the drying temperature, being highest at 60°C and lowest
at 80°C. The time required to reduce the moisture content of mango slices from 82.5±0.4 % (w.b.) to the final 9.5±0.2 %
(w.b.) was 3, 5 and 7 h at 80°C,70°C and 60°C, respectively. It was observed that the main factor influencing drying time was
the drying air temperature, as noted in other studies [17],[18]. Thus, a higher drying air temperature produced a higher
drying rate and consequently the moisture content decreased faster. This is due to increase of air heat supply rate to the
product and the acceleration of water migration inside the mango slices.