Effect of heat shock on the quality of fresh-cut apple cubes

To maintain high quality and to extend the shelf life of intact and minimally processed apple cubes, the effect of heat shock on the texture and color of apple cubes (Fuji) was evaluated in this study. After peeled and cored, the apples were cut into cubes of 1.5 cm. The heat shock was immersion in heated water from 25$^{\circ}C$ to 95$^{\circ}C$ in 10$^{\circ}C$ increments for 2 min and cooling to storage temperature as soon as possible after heat treatment. The effect of heat treatment in terms of color and texture measurements with respect to time was investigated, respectively during 7 days storage at in LDPE film bags without sealing at 4$^{\circ}C$, and 95% relative humidity air. Results suggest that heat shock (55$^{\circ}C$, 2 min) may have effectively delayed browning, and there were significant changes in color of apple cube when the temperature of heat shock is above 75$^{\circ}C$. And hardness, stiffness and firmness, which were used to describe texture, behaved similarly in the textural qualities. It was shown that the texture of the apple cubes was decreased with temperature increase. The value of them were most decreased to 70% of the initial ones after treated with 85$^{\circ}C$ and 95$^{\circ}C$ on the lust day.