Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus Polyrhizus) Peeling as Natural Food Color in Puto Making

Abstract

Dragon fruit has an attractive purple red peel color. With this, the study specifically aimed to utilize dragon fruit peeling by extracting its juice using two methods of extraction as natural food color in puto. Series of experiments were carried out to determine the quality characteristics and acceptability of the food color utilizing two methods of extraction, the manual and machine method. Sensory test established the quality characteristics of the food color using the dragon fruit extract. Results revealed the most acceptable method of extraction is utilizing machine in extracting the color pigment. Meanwhile, further study on the product which will focus on the prolonging the life span of the extracted color pigment is recommended.