Histological Changes in High-Pressure-Frozen Carrots

Histological changes in carrots frozen using a computer-programmed high pressure pilot unit for food processing were examined by light microscope. When raw carrots were frozen at 50 MPa, – 15°C; 100 MPa, –15°C; 150 MPa, –25°C; 200 MPa, –28°C, they were extremely damaged due to volume expansion by the formation of ice I. Conversely, carrots pressurized at 100 MPa, – 10°C (between liquid phase and ice I) and 200 MPa at –20°C (liquid phase) were not damaged because they were frozen rapidly during pressure reduction. They were not damaged even after pressurizing-then-immersing in LN₂. Carrots frozen at 240 MPa, –28°C and at 280 MPa, –25°C, were also not damaged, although ice III formed. The structure of carrots frozen at 400 MPa, –20°C (ice V) was comparatively intact. When carrots were preheated at 60°C for 30 min and frozen at 100 MPa, –15°C or at 400 MPa, –20°C, damage was reduced further.     

Structural and Textural Changes in Kinu-Tofu Due to High-Pressure-Freezing

To determine the effect of high-pressure-freezing on quality, kinu-tofu (soybean curd) was frozen at 100 MPa (ice I), 200 MPa (liquid phase), 340 MPa (ice III), 400, 500, 600 MPa (ice V) or 700 MPa (ice VI) at ca. –20°C for 90 min. After reduction to atmospheric pressure, tofu was stored 2 days at –30°C then thawed at 20°C. Texture and structure were compared with kinu-tofu frozen (–20°C, –30°C or –80°C) at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa). The rupture stress and strain of tofu frozen at 0.1 MPa and 100 MPa increased, but that of tofu frozen at 200 MPa and 340 MPa was similar to untreated tofu. As pressure rose above 500 MPa, rupture stress increased. The ice crystals in tofu frozen at 200 MPa ～400 MPa were smaller than in tofu frozen at 100 MPa or 700 MPa. Thus, high-pressure-freezing at 200 MPa ～400 MPa was effective in improving the texture of frozen tofu.     

High-Pressure-Freezing Effects on Textural Quality of Chinese Cabbage

Differences in texture and histological structure of Chinese cabbage (midribs) pressurized at room temperature or ca. -20°C were investigated. Use of rising pressure at room temperature enhanced de-esterification of pectin in midribs and increased firmness and rupture strain. When samples were frozen at 100 MPa (ice I formed) and at 700 MPa (ice VI), rupture strain increased. However, texture of samples frozen at 200 MPa (liquid), 340 MPa (ice III), 400 MPa (ice V) was comparatively intact. Release of pectin and histological damage in midribs frozen at 200 and 340 MPa were less than midribs frozen at 100 and 700 MPa. High-pressure-freezing was more effective in improving both texture and histological structure than freezing (-30°C) at atmospheric pressure. However, texture of high pressure-frozen midribs (pliant) was greatly different from raw midribs (crisp).     

Structural and Textural Quality of Kinu-Tofu Frozen-then-Thawed at High-Pressure

To determine effects of high-pressure thawing on quality of high-pressure frozen tofu, kinu-tofu (soybean curd) was frozen 90 min at ca ?20°C at 100 MPa (ice I), 200 MPa (liquid phase), 340 MPa (ice III), 400, 500 or 600 MPa (ice V), then thawed at the same pressure. Texture and structure of this tofu (D) were compared with high-pressure-frozen tofu thawed at atmospheric pressure (A: 90 min frozen; B: 90 min frozen then 2 days at ?30°C; C: 160 min frozen). When tofu was frozen at 200- 500 MPa, ice crystals were largest to smallest in B > A and C > D; pore size of D was the same as untreated tofu. Results indicated ice crystals never grew when frozen at 200–500 MPa. Growth occurred during reduction of pressure at ca ?20°C, frozen storage or while thawing at atmospheric pressure due to phase transition.     

Responses of Pseudomonas fluorescens to combined high pressure/temperature treatments

A Pseudomonas fluorescens strain isolated from pork meat and inoculated in culture broth was subjected to high pressure (200 and 400 MPa/10 min) at 5, 20 and 35 °C. Pressurization at 200 MPa/5 °C reduced the bacterial growth by 5 log cycles, and this effect decreased as the pressurization temperature increased. At 400 MPa, P. fluorescens growth was inactivated. The counts of P. fluorescens treated at 200 MPa after day 1 of incubation at 20 °C were higher than those obtained immediately after treatment; conversely, at 400 MPa, they were still below the detection threshold. After 8 and 16 days of incubation, counts of pressurized and non-pressurized bacteria were similar. Scanning electron microscopy showed that pressure-induced morphological changes were more pronounced at 400 MPa and that the effect of pressure was influenced by the treatment temperature.     

Inactivation of peroxidase and lipoxygenase in carrots, green beans, and green peas by combination of high hydrostatic pressure and mild heat treatment

The efficiency of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) with the combination of mild heat treatment on peroxidase (POD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inactivation in carrots, green beans, and green peas was investigated. In the first part of the study, the samples were pressurized under 250–450 MPa at 20–50 °C for 15–60 min. In the second part, two steps treatments were performed as water blanching at 40–70 °C for 15 and 30 min after pressurization at 250 MPa and 20 °C for 15–60 min. Carrot POD was decreased to 16% residual activity within the first 30 min at a treatment condition of 350 MPa and 20 °C and then it decreased to 9% at 60 min. When the carrots were water blanched at 50 °C for 30 min after HHP treatment of 250 MPa at 20 °C for 15 min, 13% residual POD activity was obtained. For green beans, the most effective results were obtained by two steps treatment and approximately 25% residual POD activity was obtained by water blanching at 50 °C for 15 min after pressurization at 250 MPa and 20 °C for 60 min. An effective inactivation of POD in green peas was not obtained. For carrots, LOX activity could not be measured due to very low LOX activity or the presence of strong antioxidants such as carotenoids. After pressurization at 250 MPa and 20 °C for 15 or 30 min, water blanching at 60 °C for 30 min provided 2–3% residual LOX activity in green beans. The treatment of 250 MPa for 30 min and then water blanching at 50 °C for 30 min provided 70% LOX inactivation in green peas.     

High-pressure/temperature treatment effect on the characteristics of octopus (Octopus vulgaris) arm muscle

Octopus muscle was pressurized at 200, 300 and 400 MPa for 15 min at 7 °C and 40 °C; treatments at 400 MPa continuously for 15 min and in three 5 min pulses at 7 °C and 40 °C were also carried out. Total viable counts of Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus and lactic bacteria, shear strength and autolytic activities were studied. High-pressure treatments reduced colony-forming units (cfu) for all groups tested, especially when applied in pulses at 40 °C, and caused a change of the predominant flora. Autolytic activity clearly decreased when pressure was over 200 MPa. When muscle is pressurized, shear strength increases although it is higher at lower pressures (200 MPa) than at higher pressure (400 MPa). When pressure was applied, morphological and ultrastructural changes were observed, mainly in the variation of fibrillar compacting, destruction of the sarcomere pattern, ultrastructural alteration of the myofibrils and gradual disappearance of the cell nucleus. The connective tissue was virtually unaffected by pressure despite the temperature applied.     

Programmed Freezing Affects Texture, Pectic Composition and Electron Microscopic Structures of Carrots

Raw and blanched carrots (3 min, boiling water) were frozen at ?2°C, ?3°C, ?4°C or ?5°C/min (final ?20°C or ?50°C) then thawed at 20°C or 100°C. Firmness of thawed raw carrots was: ?5°C > ?4°C > ?3°C > ?2°C/min. Effect of freezing rate on blanched carrots was less than that on raw carrots, but firmness of thawed carrots was not affected by final temperature of freezing. When raw carrots were thawed at 20°C, high methoxyl pectin decreased. Pectin decrease in blanched carrots caused by freezing was greater than that in frozen raw carrots. Effects of slow-freezing, programmed-freezing (slow + quick + slow) and quick-freezing showed quick freezing (—5°C/min) best for texture. As freezing rate decreased, drip increased. A wide difference among experimental samples in fine structure was revealed by cryo-scanning electron microscopy.     

Texture and Histological Structure of Carrots Frozen at a Programmed Rate and thawed in an Electrostatic Field

To investigate the most suitable rate of freezing and method for thawing, raw and blanched carrots were frozen with LN₂ (freezing rate: –5°or -2°C/min, final temp: -30°C) using a program freezer (PF), or were frozen using conventional freezers (F: -80°C, -30°and -20°C). Then, they were thawed in five different ways: electrostatic thawing (ET, -3°C, 17 hr); -3°C, 17 hr; 5°C, 17 hr; 20°C, 30 min; 100°C, 3 min. Firmness of thawed carrots and amount of undamaged tissues by LM and TEM observations were greatest to least: PF -5°C/min < PF-2°C/ min <-80°C CF<-30°CF<-20°CF, and ET ≧-3°< 5°< 20°< 100°C, respectively. Results suggest the optimum rate of freezing was -5°C/ min. The frozen disks were defrosted comparatively fast even at -3°by ET. Drip, cell damage and softening of disks were prevented by ET.     

Protein Stability of Frozen Milk as Influenced by Storage Temperature and Ultrafiltration

Milk and milk concentrates containing 12–35% total solids were stored at 0, –2, –4, –6, –8, –12, and –20°C and protein stability of the thawed products was evaluated periodically. Samples stored at –4 to – 12°C exhibited poorer protein stability than samples stored at higher or lower temperatures. Ultrafiltered (UF) skimmilk with permeate: retentate ratios of 10:90, 20:80, and 30:70 were stored at –8°C and they remained stable at least three times longer than frozen control samples of UF skimmilk stored at the same temperature. When the extent of UF was increased to 40:60, protein stability in the frozen retentate declined somewhat as compared to that of less concentrated retentates.     

Frozen storage of high-pressure- and heat-induced gels of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) muscle: rheological, chemical and ultrastructure studies

This paper examines the influence of frozen storage over 34 weeks on the rheological properties as well as the chemical and microstructural characteristics of gels made from muscle of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) subjected to different gelling treatments entailing three combinations of pressure, temperature and time: 200 MPa, <10°C, 10 min (lot L), 375 MPa, 38°C, 20 min (lot H) and atmospheric pressure, 37°C, 30 min and then 90°C, 50 min (lot T). Freezing at –40°C caused certain changes in rheological parameters. In heat-induced gels, breaking deformation, elasticity and cohesiveness increased. Of the high-pressure-induced gels, breaking force increased and cohesiveness decreased in the gel formed at lower pressures, while the only change in the gel formed at higher pressure was some loss of elasticity. There was a general fall in water holding capacity (WHC) values. Lightness remained stable. In terms of protein solubility, there was an increase in covalent bonds in lot L. As for the ultrastructure, all gels matrixes were more disorganized as a result of freezing. In the course of frozen storage, the greatest changes in rheological parameters generally took place during the first 8 weeks, and in all the gels there was a decrease in WHC. In the heat-induced gel the changes were less marked over the storage period compared with those in the high-pressure-induced gels, but the heat-induced gel was more brittle and did not maintain maximum folding test scores. Covalent bonds increased and hydrophobic interactions decreased in all lots. The general appearance of the structure of gel T remained more homogeneous, while the pressurized gels exhibited more and larger cavities.     

Inactivation ofEscherichia coliinoculated in liquid whole egg by high hydrostatic pressure

The resistance ofEscherichia coliin liquid whole egg was studied at several pressures (300, 350, 400 and 450MPa), temperatures (50, 20, 2 and –15°C) and times (5, 5+5, 10, 5+5+5, 15min). The highest reduction was obtained at 50°C (about 7log₈units). At 20 and –15°CE. coliwas more resistant to pressure than at 50 and 2°C. The intermittent treatments were more effective than continuous treatments at lower pressures (350MPa). The destruction increases upon increasing the pressure and the time treatment. Survivor curves were studied at 400MPa for two temperatures (20 and 2°C) and different times (0–60min), obtaining a decimal reduction time of 14.1min at 20°C and 9.5min at 2°X.     

Changes in Temperature, Texture, and Structure of Konnyaku (Konjac Glucomannan Gel) During High-pressure-freezing

To determine the effects of high-pressure-freezing, changes in temperature, texture, and structure of konnyaku (a gel with high water content) were measured during freezing for 60 min at 0.1 to 700 MPa and -20 °C. During freezing at 0.1, 100, 500, 600, and 700 MPa, exothermic peaks were detected (konnyaku froze). However, at 200 to 400 MPa, exothermic peak was not detected and temperature rose when pressure was released at -20 °C; the supercooled konnyaku froze by pressure-shift-freezing. The coarse gel network observed in unfrozen konnyaku was compressed by freezing due to formation of ice crystals. The rupture stress increased and strain decreased in all frozen konnyaku. High-pressure-freezing was ineffective in improving the texture of frozen-then-thawed konnyaku.     

Pectic Substance Degradation and Texture of Carrots as Affected by Pressurization

Heated pectin was degraded by transelimination (β-elimination) above pH 5 and by hydrolysis below pH 2, but pressurized pectin did not degrade. Thus cooked carrots decreased in firmness, but pressurized carrots did not. Pressurizing above 200 MPa slightly increased rupture strain. Galacturonic acid levels decreased in carrots cooked for 30 min. Total pectin in pressurized carrots was the same as in cooked for 3 min. However, with increased pressure, the amount of high methoxyl pectin in carrots decreased while low methoxyl pectin increased. Thus, the effects of pressurization on pectin degradation (transelimination) and texture of carrots were different from those of heating.     

Effects of Frozen Storage on the Ultrastructure of Bovine Muscle

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies were carried out on bovine semitendinosus samples that were subjected both to long-term frozen storage and to repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Samples frozen at –18°C and stored up to 26 wk showed essentially no change in muscle ultrastructure. Samples frozen at liquid nitrogen temperature and stored at 2–3°C did show ice crystal damage within the muscle fiber. Repeated freeze-thaw produced essentially no change in muscle ultrastructure.     

Effect of high-pressure induced ice I/ice III-transition on the texture and microstructure of fresh and pretreated carrots and strawberries

The effect of pressure treatments at −25 °C between 150 and 300 MPa, indicated as high-pressure induced crystallization (HPIC) processes if formation of ice III occurs during pressurization, on the texture and structure of frozen strawberries and carrots were studied. The formation of ice III, which has been proven to inactivate the microbial load of a frozen food, occurred when pressure was increased to 250 MPa or higher. Volume changes related to the formation of ice III affected the cell wall integrity of infused frozen strawberries and caused a 42–46% reduction of the fruit’s hardness. These textural and structural changes were not affected by the pressure holding time (30 s versus 10 min), and thus by partial thawing during the pressure holding time, and were absent in frozen fruits treated at pressures lower than 250 MPa. The structure and texture of frozen carrots were respectively not and only slightly altered during high-pressure–low-temperature (HP–LT) treatments at all pressure levels studied. However, if carrots were blanched (30 min at 60 °C, 2 min at 90 °C and a combination of both) prior to freezing, structural damages during pretreatment and freezing made the tissue, in terms of both structural and textural quality, unsuitable for a post-freezing HP–LT treatment. These observations should be taken in mind when analyzing the possibilities of HPIC processes as a tool for post-freezing microbial reduction when applied to tissue based systems.     

Changes in Temperature and Structure of Agar Gel as Affected by Sucrose During High-pressure Freezing

ABSTRACT: To determine the effects of high-pressure freezing, agar gel with 0, 5, 10, or 20% sucrose were frozen at 0.1 to about 686 MPa and -20 °C. Exothermic peaks were detected at 0.1, 100, 500 to about 686 MPa (freezing). However, at approximately 200 to 400 MPa, gel did not freeze but froze during pressure release. Thus, structure of gel frozen at approximately 200 to 400 MPa was better than other samples due to quick freezing. The phase transition from high-pressure-ices to ice I at -20 °C might have promoted the growth of ice crystals. With the addition of sucrose, the initial freezing temperature decreased and structural quality improved. Keywords: high pressure, agar gel, freezing, texture, ice crystals     

Frozen Carrots Texture and Pectic Compotients as Affected by Low-Temperature-Blanching and Quick Freezing

Carrots preheated for 2 hr at 60°C and then cooked became firmer than raw or cooked carrots. After preheating, the amount of high methoxyl pectin decreased, and low methoxyl pectin increased. Firmness of carrots decreased through freezing then thawing, but preheated carrots retained firmer texture than those blanched in boiling water. Quick-freezing resulted in better texture than slow-freezing. Loss in texture was accompanied by release of pectin. Slow-freezing accelerated release of pectin as compared to quick-freezing. Preheated carrots were slower in release of pectin. The degree of esterification of pectin substances in raw carrots decreased during preheating, freezing and thawing. Cell damage in quick frozen carrots was slight. Optimum preheating occurred with 30 min at 60°C or 5 min at 70°C. Preheating and then quick freezing were effective in improving texture of frozen carrots.     

Evolution of quality parameters of high pressure processing (HPP) pretreated albacore (Thunnus alalunga) during long-term frozen storage

The aim of this work was to study the application of high pressure processing (HPP) before freezing for maintaining as much as possible the fresh characteristics of albacore steaks after long-term storage. HPP treatments were applied at 200 MPa for 0–6 min. Then, samples were immediately frozen (−20 °C) and stored (−20 °C) for up to 12 months. Once thawed (4 °C; 24 h), weight losses, color, texture, lipid oxidation (TBARS) and salt-soluble protein content were analyzed.After 12 months of frozen storage, 200 MPa for 6 min minimized thawing loss inherent to freezing and frozen storage and decreased TBARS (53.9%) with respect to the control. However, it resulted in changes in color (higher L*, b* and ΔE values) and texture (higher adhesiveness and springiness) and decreased the salt-soluble protein content with respect to non-pretreated samples. Nevertheless, after cooking, there were no differences in color and texture between HPP pretreated fish and the controls.     

Effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure Treatment (HHPT) on Quality and Shelf Life of Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

The ability of high hydrostatic pressure treatment (HHPT) to extend the shelf life of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) was assessed in this study. For that purpose, fillets were subjected to pressure treatments at 200, 300, 400 MPa at 5, 10, 15 °C for 5 and 15 min. The influence of pressure treatments on the levels of trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) as well as color changes was investigated. The suitable combinations were determined as 200 MPa, 15 °C for 5 min. and 400 MPa, 5 °C for 5 min. In the second stage, the shelf life of samples, which were treated at these conditions, stored at 4?±?0.5 °C were studied by monitoring pH, color, sensorial features (appearance and odor), TMA-N, TBA, total volatile basic nitrogen, histamine, and total mesophilic aerobic count. The unpressurized mackerel samples were acceptable up to only 7 days compared to 17 and 19 days after 200 and 400 MPa treatments; respectively. The results obtained in this study showed that HHPT in combination with chilled storage can improve the shelf life and quality of fish.