The pomegranates have been cultivated over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. Th... more The pomegranates have been cultivated over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. This fruit presents unique organoleptic and nutritional properties which have been always appreciated. However, its consumption is still reduced due to the difficulty in obtaining the delicious arils provoking that the enormous potential of this cultivar has not been completely achieved jet. A possible answer could be the development of a new high quality product: minimally fresh processed pomegranate arils. The objective of the present work was to determine the suitability of the pomegranate cultivar 'Mollar of Elche' to fresh processing and modified atmosphere packaging. Finally, the possibility of using UV-C radiation in combination with cold temperatures to longer preserve the fresh properties of this product was also tested. Once the arils of the pomegranates were manually extracted from the fruit, they were fresh processed (washed, rinsed and dried). Before packaging, pomegranate arils were subjected to different UV-C radiation treatments (2.27, 4.54, 9.08 and 13.62 kJ/m 2 ). Finally, 125 g of pomegranate arils were packaged in polyethylene baskets and sealed with bioriented polypropylene of 25 μm (PPB25) to generate a passive modified atmosphere (MA) inside the packages. The product was stored up to 15 days at 5°C and several analyses were carried out during the shelf life of the product: microbial count, sensorial quality and gas composition inside the baskets.
The effect of oxygen (low and superatmospheric partial pressures), carbon dioxide and temperature... more The effect of oxygen (low and superatmospheric partial pressures), carbon dioxide and temperature on the respiration rate of strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier) and fresh-cut butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L.), was evaluated. The products were stored in glass jars at three different temperatures. The jars were flushed with humidified gas mixtures containing different levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Temperature, carbon dioxide and oxygen partial pressures significantly influenced the respiration rate of both products. A model based on Michaelis-Menten kinetics to describe the respiration rates was constructed. The influence of temperature was described using an Arrhenius equation and carbon dioxide was considered as a non-competitive inhibitor of the respiration. The inhibiting effect of superatmospheric oxygen partial pressures was described by a non-competitive inhibition term.
The effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of whole Galia melon on its physical, chemical,... more The effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of whole Galia melon on its physical, chemical, and sensory quality after minimal processing were evaluated. High quality fruits washed with 200 mg/L NaClO water solution were stored at 8 °C and 95% RH under CA of 4 kPa O2 + 15 kPa CO2 (T1), 4 kPa O 2 + 10 kPa CO2
The overall quality, anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of minimally fresh processed ar... more The overall quality, anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of minimally fresh processed arils of the sweet 'Mollar of Elche' pomegranate cv. (Punica granatum, Punicaceae), harvested at two different dates, and stored under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) at 5 • C was assessed. Hand extracted, chlorine disinfected, rinsed and dried pomegranate arils were exposed to 0.56, 1.13, 2.27, 4.54, 9.08 or 13.62 kJ/m 2 UV-C radiation doses. Minimally fresh processed arils were packed in polypropylene baskets (125 g each), sealed on the top with bioriented polypropylene to generate a passive MAP, and stored up to 13 or 15 days at 5 • C. The respiration rate of fresh processed arils was higher in the late harvested than in earlier harvested fruit. The UV-C radiation did not significantly affect the respiration rate of fresh processed arils. Unclear results were obtained on the effect of the UV-C radiation on the microbial growth of minimally processed arils. Some of the applied UV-C treatments reduced mesophilic, psychrotrophic, lactic acid and Enterobacteriaceae counts. However, microbial counts were not systematically reduced throughout the shelf life. In addition, UV-C treated arils showed higher bacterial counts in a few cases. Yeasts and moulds were unaffected by the UV-C treatments. The limit of visual quality acceptance to consumers was reached after 14 days in arils from earlier harvested fruit and after 10 days in late harvested. In this latter case, the end of the shelf life according to sensory quality was coincident with the end of the shelf life according to the Spanish microbial legal limit. The harvest date of the pomegranates will affect several quality parameters for minimally fresh processed arils at the end of their shelf life.
The pomegranates have been cultivated over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. Th... more The pomegranates have been cultivated over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. This fruit presents unique organoleptic and nutritional properties which have been always appreciated. However, its consumption is still reduced due to the difficulty in obtaining the delicious arils provoking that the enormous potential of this cultivar has not been completely achieved jet. A possible answer could be the development of a new high quality product: minimally fresh processed pomegranate arils. The objective of the present work was to determine the suitability of the pomegranate cultivar 'Mollar of Elche' to fresh processing and modified atmosphere packaging. Finally, the possibility of using UV-C radiation in combination with cold temperatures to longer preserve the fresh properties of this product was also tested. Once the arils of the pomegranates were manually extracted from the fruit, they were fresh processed (washed, rinsed and dried). Before packaging, pomegranate arils were subjected to different UV-C radiation treatments (2.27, 4.54, 9.08 and 13.62 kJ/m 2 ). Finally, 125 g of pomegranate arils were packaged in polyethylene baskets and sealed with bioriented polypropylene of 25 μm (PPB25) to generate a passive modified atmosphere (MA) inside the packages. The product was stored up to 15 days at 5°C and several analyses were carried out during the shelf life of the product: microbial count, sensorial quality and gas composition inside the baskets.
The effect of oxygen (low and superatmospheric partial pressures), carbon dioxide and temperature... more The effect of oxygen (low and superatmospheric partial pressures), carbon dioxide and temperature on the respiration rate of strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier) and fresh-cut butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L.), was evaluated. The products were stored in glass jars at three different temperatures. The jars were flushed with humidified gas mixtures containing different levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Temperature, carbon dioxide and oxygen partial pressures significantly influenced the respiration rate of both products. A model based on Michaelis-Menten kinetics to describe the respiration rates was constructed. The influence of temperature was described using an Arrhenius equation and carbon dioxide was considered as a non-competitive inhibitor of the respiration. The inhibiting effect of superatmospheric oxygen partial pressures was described by a non-competitive inhibition term.
The effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of whole Galia melon on its physical, chemical,... more The effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of whole Galia melon on its physical, chemical, and sensory quality after minimal processing were evaluated. High quality fruits washed with 200 mg/L NaClO water solution were stored at 8 °C and 95% RH under CA of 4 kPa O2 + 15 kPa CO2 (T1), 4 kPa O 2 + 10 kPa CO2
The overall quality, anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of minimally fresh processed ar... more The overall quality, anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of minimally fresh processed arils of the sweet 'Mollar of Elche' pomegranate cv. (Punica granatum, Punicaceae), harvested at two different dates, and stored under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) at 5 • C was assessed. Hand extracted, chlorine disinfected, rinsed and dried pomegranate arils were exposed to 0.56, 1.13, 2.27, 4.54, 9.08 or 13.62 kJ/m 2 UV-C radiation doses. Minimally fresh processed arils were packed in polypropylene baskets (125 g each), sealed on the top with bioriented polypropylene to generate a passive MAP, and stored up to 13 or 15 days at 5 • C. The respiration rate of fresh processed arils was higher in the late harvested than in earlier harvested fruit. The UV-C radiation did not significantly affect the respiration rate of fresh processed arils. Unclear results were obtained on the effect of the UV-C radiation on the microbial growth of minimally processed arils. Some of the applied UV-C treatments reduced mesophilic, psychrotrophic, lactic acid and Enterobacteriaceae counts. However, microbial counts were not systematically reduced throughout the shelf life. In addition, UV-C treated arils showed higher bacterial counts in a few cases. Yeasts and moulds were unaffected by the UV-C treatments. The limit of visual quality acceptance to consumers was reached after 14 days in arils from earlier harvested fruit and after 10 days in late harvested. In this latter case, the end of the shelf life according to sensory quality was coincident with the end of the shelf life according to the Spanish microbial legal limit. The harvest date of the pomegranates will affect several quality parameters for minimally fresh processed arils at the end of their shelf life.
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