Abstract
The Purpose of this study was to propose the most effective packaging method and storage conditions to apply to home-delivered meals for the elderly Changes in the physical and sensory qualities of pan fried oak mushroom and meat, soy sauce glazed hair tail and roasted dodok, in wrap packaging, top sealing and vacuum packaging were evaluated during storage at 25, 4 and -18$^{\circ}C$, for 5 days. The speed of falling-off in the foods qualities, under chilled and frozen storage conditions did not differ much as the 5 day storage period was too short for a proper assessment. The sensory characteristics of taste and texture were better evaluated in the chilled than in the frozen storage. The most effective packaging method at all the storage temperatures was the vacuum packaging, which assured the safety of the foods by the removal of oxygen. The lightness, springiness and hardness were significantly influenced by the storage temperature, period and packaging method, while the sensory characters were affected by storage temperature and the period. In conclusion, the quality of the vacuum packed pan fried oak mushroom and meat and soy sauce glazed hair tail, in frozen storage, were still fresh after the five days of the experiment. The shelf-life of those foods with wrap packaging, in chilled storage, were suggested to be three days. The quality of the roasted dodok, with vacuum packaging in chilled storage, was preserved for five days.
