Enhanced Quick-Cooking Red Beans: An Energy-Efficient Drying Method with Hot Air and Stepwise Microwave Techniques

This research introduced an energy-efficient drying method combining hot-air drying with stepwise microwave heating for producing quick-cooking red beans. Crucial parameters such as the effective diffusivity coefficient (D_e), and specific energy consumption (SEC) were examined across varying conditions with the aim of optimizing the drying condition. The results showed that D_e and SEC varied in a range of 0.53 × 10^-9-3.18 × 10^-9 m²·s^-1 and 16.58-68.06 MJ·(kg·h^-1)^-1, respectively. The findings from the response surface methodology indicated that optimal drying conditions for cooked red beans are achieved at a hot air temperature of 90 °C, a microwave power of 450 W (corresponding to an initial intensity of 2.25 W·g^-1), and a rotational speed of 0.2 Hz. These conditions lead to the maximum effective diffusivity coefficient and the lowest specific energy consumption. Further investigations into step-up (150-300 W to 300-450 W) and step-down (300-450 W to 150-300 W) microwave heating modes were conducted to refine the drying process for enhanced energy efficiency. The synthetic evaluation index revealed that step-down microwave heating strategies of 450 W-to-150 W and 300 W-to-150 W, applied at a temperature of 90 °C and a rotational speed of 0.2 Hz, were notably effective. These methods successfully minimized energy use while preserving the quality attributes of the final product, which were comparable to those of traditionally cooked and freeze-dried red beans. The combined approach of hot-air drying with step-down microwave heating presents a promising, energy-saving technique for producing quick-cooking beans that retain their rehydration qualities and texture.