Abstract:
Injera is an important staple food in Ethiopia and mostly it is made from Teff and other
crops in small amount such as corn, rice, and wheat. However, post-manufacturing
contamination and improper storage make them extremely susceptible to microbial
spoilage. The spread of mold on injera and baked foods is a concern, leading to financial
loss and consumer dissatisfaction. Adding organic acid salts to the process as a
preservative is the main way to prevent this problem. However, it have drawbacks. Other
methods can be used to extend the shelf life of the product. The aim of this study was to
prolong the shelf life of injera by controlling temperature and relative humidity to form a
regulated atmosphere. This may be possible by using an evaporative cooler from a
locally available clay pot. It was designed, manufactured, and tested for Injera storage in
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. This system is an economical and efficient way to lower the
temperature and increase relative humidity. The performance of the cooler was evaluated
in terms of temperature drop and evaporation efficiency. The results show that the
evaporative cooler with load of injera can reduce the daily maximum ambient
temperature from 28.98 °C to 22.90 °C. The temperature drop of up to 6.08 °C and the
relative humidity can rise from 28.78% to 80.94% in the storage room and are evaluated
for injera storage. This study also identified the types of spoiled injera fungi species.
Isolates were identified based on colonial and microscopic characteristics. Three fungal
genus Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Rhizopus sp. The effects of temperature,
relative humidity, and pH were studied for the optimization of evaporative coolers
identified from rotten injera and designed for injera storage. The evaporative cooler can
store freshly made injera for 9 days before any visible mold stains appear, significantly
reducing weight loss with an average cooling efficiency of 79.31%.