The main objective of the present study is to evaluate direct osmosis as a process to reconcentrate osmotic dehydration spent solutions. The reconcentration is performed using two modes: off-site (during which osmotic and stripping solutions are brought into contact in a membrane module) and on-site direct osmosis (the osmotic solution is reconcentrated at the same time as the osmotic dehydration process takes place). During the off-site direct osmosis Desal5-DK membrane performed the best, giving for 40, 50 and 60 degrees Brix fluxes of 3, 1.9, 1.7 kg/m(2) h, respectively, first because of its properties and, second, because it is not very thick, which reduces the mass transfer resistance between the solutions. The low water fluxes obtained when on-site direct osmosis was used (0.06 and 0.023 for 40 and 50 degrees Brix, respectively), can be attributed mainly to the low driving force and problems related to stirring and the design of the membrane support. The apples osmodehydrated during the on-site direct osmosis were used in the sensory analysis. The panellists indicated that the apples that were osmodehydrated using the reconcentrated solution had best overall taste. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.