SUITABILITY OF CORN HUSK AND COW DUNG AS ALTERNATIVES TO FUEL WOOD FOR SMOKING FISH

Abstract

Using fuel wood for fish smoking is literarily becoming very expensive hence the need to find alternative smoking source. This study evaluates the suitability of Cow dung and Corn husks as possible alternatives fish smoking sources to the conventional fuel wood. The results obtained reveals that fish samples smoked with Corn husks had the highest protein level while the least value was observed with Cow dung. Microbial count showed significantly low level in fish smoked with Corn husks (1.2×105) compared with the highest level observed in Cow dung (1.81×105). Organoleptic assessment revealed fish smoked with Corn husk and Fuel wood to be better in appearance, aroma, taste and texture. Profit analysis indicates it more expensive to smoke 3kg fish using Fuel wood (?2510) compared to Cow dung and Corn husk (?2210), hence, for profitability and reasons of hygiene, corn husk is strongly recommended for fish smoking above fuel wood and cow dung