Chances of keeping quality of fresh, raw, early potatoes, with special regard to storage in controlled atmosphere

Due to their relatively rapid spoiling, most of the premature vegetable varieties are left out of consideration for extended refrigerated storage. In this paper the authors studied the impact of extended storage (42 and 62 days) on maintaining quality of the well-known and popular premature potato variety “Cleopatra”. The tubers were stored with (8 °C) and without refrigeration (18 °C) in regular and controlled atmosphere (CA) (12% O2+2% CO2+86% N2). The results are based on samples harvested in two following seasons. Best suited for the market are the potatoes that have been stored under refrigeration in a controlled atmosphere. Regarding colour and firmness of the tubers, no considerable changes were found. Neither is there a substantial change in the starch or sugar content. The minor decrease in flavour intensity and aroma suggests that the gas-composition of the atmosphere has to be refined and length of storage period has to be determined more precisely. Other varieties could be included in the investigations in the future

Product and quality characteristics for predictive purposes: A case for cold storage of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.)

Reliable product characteristics are needed for the prediction of shelf life by mathematical models in the post-harvest sector. Exact knowledge of the nature of changes during ripening and storage in refrigerated storage is essential. Authors investigated physical, chemical and biological changes of field-grown, autumn-harvested food grade potato (cultivar Kondor) as a function of temperature and storage time and the market quality was determined by visual assessment. Most of the investigations were preceded by sampling and methodological examinations. The most appropriate characteristics for the predictive modelling were: water soluble solids content, total starch content, weight loss during storage, marketability of the product (visually assessed) and texture parameters: acoustic firmness factor and bio-yield (by Instron Universal Testing Machine). Components of complex impedance, except for some cases, would be unreliable factors in model creation