Fresh-cut strawberry stored under refrigeration and controlled atmosphere / Morango processado minimamente e conservado sob refrigeração e atmosfera controlada

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

Strawberries are a temperate vegetable crop highly appreciated by consumers due to their unique characteristics such as bright red color, soft texture and slightly acidified flavor. Due to their high demand both at national and international level, the development of fresh-cut technology for strawberries is highly desirable. The present work was carried out aiming at evaluating physico-chemical, sensorial and microbiological characteristics of fresh-cut strawberries kept under refrigeration and controlled atmosphere. Strawberries ?Oso Grande? were harvested at a commercial field located at Pouso Alegre, MG, and transported to the Postharvest Laboratory at Embrapa Agroindústria de Alimentos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, and were stored for approximatelly 10 hours in cold rooms at 5ºC and 85% relative humidity until processing. After grading and sizing fruits were minimally processed and the calyx and peduncle were removed. Sanitation was done in a solution of chlorine (150 µL L-1) at 5°C for 10 min. Rinsing was carried in a solution of chlorine of 5 µL L-1 at 5°C for 5 min. After room drying, fruits were weight, placed in plastic trays polyethylene tereftalato type (PET) and kept under controlled atmosphere conditions for 10 days at 5 and 10°C. Atmosphere control was accomplished in micro-chambers where the following atmospheric combinations were established: 3% O2 + 10% CO2 (N2 balance), 3% O2 + 15% CO2 (N2 balance), and Ambient atmosphere (control). Fruits were evaluated at 0, 3, 7 and 10 days for mass loss, firmness, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose), total anthocyanins, color (L-value, a-value), and microbiological quality. Sensory analysis was performed at 3, 7 and 10 days of storage, and appearence, texture and flavor were evaluated. There were no significant differences among most of the variables studied both at 5ºC and 10°C. Storage atmosphere had a significant effect in mass loss, firmness, levels of fructose and total anthocyanins and luminosity at the cut site. Atmospheres with 3% O2 + 10% CO2 and 3% O2 + 15% CO2 were more efficient in firmness maintenance for fresh-cut fruits as well as were more effective to control mass loss at normal atmosphere (air). However, fresh cut fruits kept in these atmospheres showed a lower content of total anthocyanins, although no significant changes were observed throughout the storage period. The presence of off-flavors detected by the taste panel in the fresh-cut strawberries stored under 3% O2 + 10% CO2 and 3% O2 + 15% CO2 made with that the product was rejected by the provers from 3rd day of storage, when the appearance was still adequate. Storage at 5°C was more effective in the maintenance of appearance, flavor retention and in the prevention of off-flavors. Storage length did not affect texture and flavor attributes evaluated by the sensory panel, but affected visual attributes. Temperature reduction from 10ºC to 5°C and the utilization of 3% O2 + 10% CO2 and 3% O2 + 15% CO2 concentrations reduced the growth of psycotrophic bacteria, molds and yeasts, increasing the shelf life of fresh-cut strawberries

ASSUNTO(S)

atmospheric control avaliação sensorial minimally processing controle de temperatura temperature control controle atmosferico strawberry frutas - processamento sensorial analysis alimentos - avaliação sensorial morango

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados