Table 1. Effect of different pre-treatment methods on pH and color of hot-air dried Hermetia illucens larvae

Variable Raw HD HB HR HS
pH 5.97±0.05d 8.12±0.03c 8.72±0.01a 8.20±0.01b 8.76±0.01a
Color
 CIE L* 48.61±0.75a 25.43±0.89c 29.60±0.67b 24.88±0.32c 29.54±0.12b
 CIE a* 0.89±0.34c 0.59±0.10d 1.64±0.02a 0.57±0.07d 1.31±0.01b
 CIE b* 10.33±0.29a 1.23±0.17d 4.64±0.24b 1.41±0.13d 3.82±0.15c
ΔE1) - 24.91±0.04a 19.86±0.44b 25.35±1.03a 20.15±0.66b
All values are mean±SD of three replicates (n=3).
The color value of raw was used as a standard to compare color differences between other treatments, and the color difference was calculated according to the CIE76 △E formula [(△L*2 + △a*2 + △b*2)1/2].
Means within a row with different letters are significantly different (p<0.05).
Raw, non-dried insect; HD, hot air-dried insect without pre-treatment; HB, hot air-dried insect after blanching; HR, hot air-dried insect after roasting; HS, hot air-dried insect after super-heated steaming.