Stability of carotenoids and carotenoid esters in pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) slices during hot air drying

•Six carotenoid diesters and 19 carotenoids were identified in pumpkin flesh.•Xanthophyll diesters accounted for 43% of the total carotenoids in pumpkin flesh.•Dihydroxy xanthophylls were easily degraded during hot air drying (60–100 °C)•Xanthophylls were less heat stable than their diester counterparts.•The degradation rates of lutein diesters were only 10–20% of that for lutein.