Quality Maintenance of "Ready-to-eat" Shredded Carrots by Gamma Irradiation

International audienceABSTRACT Shredded carrots were either chlorinated, rinsed, and spin‐dried as in industrial processes, or irradiated (2 kGy), replacing the three steps. Several factors defining the quality of minimally processed vegetables were monitored during storage at 10°. Atmospheres inside micro‐porous plastic bags stabilized at 7–15% O 2 and 10–15% CO 2 . Sugar levels in tissues were twice as high in irradiated samples as in chlorinated ones. Irradiation also prevented losses of orange color and carotenes. Growth of aerobic mesophilic and lactic microflora was strongly inhibited by irradiation. Sensory analysis demonstrated preferences for irradiated vegetables. Irradiation, avoiding three potential denaturing steps preserved “ready‐to‐eat” shredded carrots with better quality than those prepared by conventional industrial processes

Changes in sensory quality of sterile cantaloupe dice stored in controlled atmospheres.

Diced cantaloupe flesh that was microbiologically sterile was prepared in order to study the physiological deterioration of fruit when stored under a range of controlled atmospheres at 4.5°C. Sterile fruit pieces were prepared by boiling whole melons for 3 min, then dicing aseptically. Storage atmospheres were in continuous flow and contained from 0 to 26% CO2 and 3.5 to 17% O2. Sensory assessments were carried out by a highly trained panel at 14-day intervals. Products that were acceptable for up to 28 days were obtained when the following 3 treatments were used: 6% CO2 and 6% O2; 9.5% CO2 and 3.5% O2; and 15% CO2 and 6% O2. Overall, treatment with 0, 19.5 or 26% CO2 (irrespective of O2 concn.) caused significant deterioration in sensory properties