Effect of agronomic practices and drying techniques on nutritional and quality parameters of onions (Allium cepa L.)

The effects of four drying treatments (freeze-drying, hot air drying, oven drying, and vacuum oven drying) on the bioactive compounds (total phenolics, total flavonoids, and quercetins), color, and antioxidant capacity of organic and nonorganic onions of two varieties (Red Baron and Hyfort) subjected to two agronomic treatments (OSOP and CSCP) were investigated. The average final dry weight of the samples was 9.82 ± 0.41%. After drying, there was a significant increase in total phenolics, total flavonoids, total quercetin, and antioxidant capacity in comparison with fresh onion samples, which suggested that drying can improve the extractability of phenols and accordingly the antioxidant activity of onions. Different drying techniques also resulted in different fractions of individual quercetins. Dried organic onions had higher levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity than dried nonorganic onions for a same variety. The highest antioxidant capacity displayed by freeze-dried and hot-air-dried organic Red Baron onion is in agreement with their higher phenolic and flavonoid contents compared to all other samples.