Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #134967
Title: POSTPROCESSING DIP MAINTAINS QUALITY AND EXTENDS THE SHELF LIFE OF FRESH-CUT APPLE

Author
item BAI, JINHE - FAS
item Baldwin, Elizabeth - Liz

Submitted to: Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2002
Publication Date: 2/1/2003
Citation: BAI, J., BALDWIN, E.A. POSTPROCESSING DIP MAINTAINS QUALITY AND EXTENDS THE SHELF LIFE OF FRESH-CUT APPLE. PROCEEDINGS OF FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 2002. v. 115. p. 297-300.

Interpretive Summary: Minimally process vegetable products (salads in a bag) have become very popular. Cut-fruit, however, are more difficult to handle due to their high sugar content and perishible nature. Cut apple would make a good cut-fruit commercial product, but has problems with browning of the cut surface, decay, and water loss. Edible coatings that are tasteless, and unnoticeable could benefit cut fruit and vegetable products by replacing the protective peel that has been removed in processing. Application of an edible fruit coating with anti-browning agents would extended the storage life of this product.

Technical Abstract: An aqueous solution with hypochlorite as a sanitizer, sodium erythorbate (isoascorbate), N-acetylcysteine and 4-hexylresorcinol as reducing and anti-browning agents, and Ca propionate as a firming agent was developed for postprocessing dip of fresh-cut `Gala' apple. The additional effect of edible coating materials to the aqueous solution of additives was also investigated. The edible coating film-forming agents were soybean oil emulsion, chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which were expected to form a protective layer on the cut surface of the apple wedges, decreasing water loss and other deteriorating factors due to cutting. Apple slices were dipped in aqueous solutions of sanitizer, with or without anti-browning and firming agents (additives), and with or without film-formers. Treated slices were then allowed to drain for 1 h at 5.5 C before placement in perforated polyethylene bags (20 X 18 cm, thickness 30 m, with ten 1.5 mm holes) and storage at 5.5 C for up to 14 days. Slices dipped in water (control, containing hypochlorite only) lost marketable quality within a day, because of severe browning accompanied by a sharp decrease of hue angle (h ab), and lightness (L*), and an increase in a* and b* values. Slices dipped in the aqueous solution plus additives maintained cut surface color, inhibited ethylene production, maintained firmness, and maintained the major aroma of apple. However, these slices exhibited green mold after 8 days of storage. Addition of soybean oil emulsion reduced water loss, whereas chitosan and CMC did not, although water loss was not a problem for polyethylene packaged products. The wedges dipped in coatings lost several major volatiles of apple compared to those dipped in the aqueous solutions. These results suggest that a dip with a sanitizer, firming agent, and reducing/anti-browning agents is beneficial for fresh-cut apple quality. Addition of film-formers led to loss of important aroma compounds while chitosan did not reduce decay as has been reported for whole fruits.