• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.167.1-167
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• 2003

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.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.825-832
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• 2006

The effect of alginate coating in combination with an anti-browning agent on increasing the post-cutting shelf life and improving the quality of minimally processed apple cubes was studied during storage at room temperature for 5 days. A simple coating technique involving the chemical cross-linkage of alginate by calcium was used. Statistical-based experimental designs were applied to improve the quality of the alginate-coated apple cubes (ACAC). Plackett-Burman design was first used to determine the main factors influencing the preservation of the original weight, color, and texture of ACAC. Among these variables, alginate concentration ($X_1$), dipping time ($X_2$), and dipping temperature ($X_3$) significantly influenced the ACAC weight and color (confidence levels above 90%). Subsequently, the effects of the 3 main factors were further investigated by a central composite design. The polynomial models developed by response surface methodology were adequate to describe the relationships between the studied factors and the responses. Overall optimization conducted by superimposing the curves of the responses enabled the determination of an optimal range of the independent variables in which the five responses were simultaneously optimized. The point chosen as representative of this optimal area corresponded to $X_1=2.98%$, $X_2=0.85\;min$, and $X_3=55^{\circ}C$ and under these conditions the model predicted weight loss=0.522%, relative hardness=1.517, ${\Delta}E=1.423$, browning inhibition=93.403%, and ${\Delta}L=0.158$.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1417-1422
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ultrasound with ascorbic acid on the quality of fresh-cut apples. Prepared apple cubes were dipped in distilled water (US) or in 1% ascorbic acid solution (AS), both were treated with ultrasound at 40 kHz, while the other sample was just dipped in 1% ascorbic acid solution for 1 min (AA). All samples were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 12 days. AS treatment had an effect on apple cube color as indicated by its significantly higher L values and lower ${\Delta}E$ value whereas AA- and US-treated samples showed a considerable browning. Higher inhibition rate on browning and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of 46 and 98%, respectively, were observed after AS treatment. The highest total phenolic content of AS-treated samples was shown during whole storage periods. This investigation revealed that the use of ultrasound in combination with ascorbic acid had a positive effect on quality maintaining of fresh-cut apples.