Chemical and microbial stability of high moisture dried apricots during storage

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the chemical and microbial stability of high moisture (HM) dried apricots during storage at 5, 20 and 30 °C for a period of 8 months. HM dried apricots were obtained by rehydrating dried apricots in ‘water’ and ‘water + H₂O₂’. RESULTS: Analysis of kinetic data suggested first‐order models for loss of SO₂ and non‐enzymatic browning reactions. Higher storage temperatures increased the rate of SO₂ loss and formation of brown colour in HM dried apricots. Results from extensive colour measurements (non‐enzymatic browning, reflectance colour and β‐carotene) revealed that the colour of HM dried apricots stored at 5 °C was almost unchanged during 8 months of storage. The colour of samples stored at 30 °C was unacceptable starting from 2 months of storage. Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts decreased 0.7, 1.1 and 1.5 log cycles after 8 months of storage at 5, 20 and 30 °C, respectively. For the same storage period, the decrease in mesophilic bacteria was 0.62 log cycle in samples rehydrated in ‘water + H₂O₂’ and stored at 20 °C. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HM dried apricots should be stored at temperatures lower than 20 °C to preserve the characteristic golden yellow colour. A relatively low level of SO₂ (1458 mg kg^?1 at 200 g kg^?1 moisture level) was sufficient to prevent the growth of spoilage organisms in HM dried apricots at all three storage temperatures. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

水分含量对即食酥脆鲫鱼质构及色泽的影响

采用两段式脱水烤制方式开发即食酥脆鲫鱼,以质构和色泽为指标,结合感官评定,探讨了烤前水分含量(70%降至45%)及最终水分含量(11%降至3%)对酥脆鲫鱼质构和色泽的影响。结果表明:随着烤前水分含量的降低,硬度、咀嚼性、剪切力增大,但从70%降至55%变化不显著,进一步降低之后显著增大(p<0.05),L*值减小,a*、b*值增大,从60%降至55%产品a*、b*值增加较显著(p<0.05);随着最终水分含量的降低,硬度、剪切力增大,咀嚼性先增大后略微减小,弹性、内聚性及回复性减小,3%~5%变化不明显,L*值增大,a*、b*值减小,5%~9%之间差别不显著(p>0.05)。结合感官评定确定烤前水分含量在55%,二次干燥之后最终水分含量为5%时产品品质最佳。      

Effect of temperature and initial moisture content on sorption isotherms of banana dried by tunnel drier

Sorption isotherms of intermediate moisture content (IMC) products are essential to predict shelf-life of packaged moisture-sensitive product by modelling moisture uptake during storage and distribution. The effect of temperature and initial moisture content (MC) of IMC banana on the relationship between MC and water activity were investigated. Raw bananas were dried in a tunnel dryer at 2% relative humidity (RH), 70 °C, and a 3.2 ± 0.2 m s^–1 air velocity. Drying procedure was carried out a number of times until various IMC levels were obtained (5%, 14%, 22% and 33% db for banana). Sorption isotherms of bananas were determined at 10, 20, 30 and 40 °C. The initial MC of IMC banana had no significant effect on the relationship between MC and water activity according to statistical analysis. All the sorption curves were found to be Type II. BET, GAB, modified GAB, Oswin, Halsey and modified Freundlich models were fitted to the data and it was found that the best results were obtained with a modified Freundlich equation. A secondary modified Freundlich model was built accounting for the effect of a _w and temperature on the sample MC.     

植物精油对杏干优势微生物的抑制效果研究

以新疆小白杏为实验材料,研究新疆小白杏杏干在储藏期间微生物含量变化,通过分离、纯化从杏干上得到3株优势霉菌,形态观察初步鉴定为根霉菌、链格孢菌和青霉菌。选取9种植物精油对杏干上的混合菌进行抑菌实验,根据抑菌率筛选出3种抑菌活性较强的精油,并通过测定抑菌圈直径和最低抑菌浓度(MIC)进一步研究这3种精油对杏干上优势霉菌的抑菌活性。结果表明,9种植物精油对杏干上微生物均有一定的抑制作用,其中肉桂精油、月桂精油和茴香精油具有较强的抑菌性,且异味较小,对3种优势霉菌也有显著的抑制作用,抑菌活性显著优于卡那霉素,抑菌效果依次为:肉桂精油>月桂精油>茴香精油,肉桂精油可以作为天然保鲜剂用于杏干制品,达到抑菌和延长货架期的目的。      

Effect of drying temperature on polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity of apricots

This study was carried out in order to check for the influence of drying parameters on the phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity on two apricot cultivars (Pelese and Cafona) using two sets of air drying temperatures: (1) air temperature at 55 °C; (2) air temperature at 75 °C. Whole fresh and dried fruits were assessed for: phenolics, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity and redox potential (all parameters were calculated on a dry matter basis). Analysis of data shows that the decrease in chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acid in Cafona cultivar is higher at the lower drying temperature. Catechin showed the same behaviour of hydroxycinnamic acids in both cultivars, while the decrease in the other compounds was significantly more marked in the sample dried at 75 °C. The antioxidant activity increased significantly in Cafona fruits and this increase was confirmed by a diminution of the redox potential.     

Effect of sulphiting and drying methods on physico-chemical and sensorial quality of dried apricots during ambient storage

Fresh mature and ripe apricots after preparations were pre-treated with potassium meta-bisulphite (KMS) at concentrations of 2–8% for 30, 45 and 60 min followed by drying in solar tunnel dryer and in open air. After completion of drying, the samples were packed in polyethylene pouches and evaluated for various quality parameters at 0, 6 and 12 months of ambient storage. KMS pre-treatment at concentration of 6% for 60 min prior to drying helped significantly in improving and maintaining the quality of dried apricots for up to 12 months of ambient storage. Solar tunnel drying resulted in hygienic product and reduced the drying time to 3–4 days compared with 14–16 days in open air drying. Residual free sulphur dioxide of apricots pre-treated at KMS concentration of 6% for 60 min was within the prescribed limits of the Fruit Product Order (1955) specifications for dried products.     

Effects of pretreatments on the quality of open-air and solar dried apricots

Apricots, pretreated with SO₂ gas, sodium-meta-bisulfite or SO₂ gas/ ethyl oleate, were open-air or solar dried. Increasing initial SO₂ concentrations, ranging from 3600 to 10100 mg/kg dry matter, increased the drying rates depending on the type of the pretreatment and the drying method. In the range 47–74% of the initially available SO₂ is lost during drying. Hunter L (lightness) and +b (yellowness) values of SO₂ gas treated-dried apricots were slightly larger than those of others. Ethyl oleate treatment, in addition to SO₂ gas, accelerated both the drying and browning rates (decreasing Hunter L value). In general, Hunter +a (redness) increased upon drying of apricots.     

Effect of processing on ochratoxin A content in dried beans

Dried pink beans naturally contaminated with ochratoxin A (OTA) and dried carioca beans artificially contaminated with OTA by inoculation with Aspergillus ochraceus (ATCC 22947) were tested for ochratoxin A levels as follows: dried beans were washed with water for 2, 60 or 120 min, soaked in water for 60, 120 min or 10 h, and cooked for 60 or 120 min. At each step, test water and beans were separated. Test water, raw beans and cooked beans were analyzed for OTA. The amount of OTA partitioned into water and in residual beans was determined by methanol–sodium bicarbonate extraction, buffer dilution, immunoaffinity column cleanup, liquid chromatographic separation and fluorescence detection. The results demonstrated that the distribution of OTA in processing water and beans depends on the method of preparation. All treatments (washing, soaking and cooking) when applied individually reduced the amounts of OTA retained in bean flour and whole beans. Higher amounts of OTA remained in whole beans than in bean flour after removing the processing water. The combination of the three treatments eliminated about 50% of the toxin from whole beans. This study provides evidence that discarding the washing, soaking and cooking water leads to a significant reduction in OTA contamination in dried beans.     

不同储藏方式对小麦粉水分、脂肪酸值和白度的影响

研究了在25℃条件下,不同储藏方式对小麦粉水分、脂肪酸值和白度的影响.结果表明:不同储藏方式对小麦粉水分均有一定影响,低温冷冻储藏的小麦粉水分随着储藏时间延长而逐渐升高;在其他储藏方式下,小麦粉水分随着储藏时间的延长均有一定程度的下降.在不同储藏方式下,随着储藏时间的延长,小麦粉脂肪酸值均呈上升趋势.添加脱氧剂的气调包装可以加速小麦粉白度的变化,其他储藏方法对小麦粉白度的影响不显著.     

The relationship between moisture content and equilibrium relative humidity of dried figs

A vacuum oven method is recommended for the determination of the moisture content of figs, by drying sliced quarters of whole figs at 70°C, at a pressure of less than 5 mm Hg for 24 hr. There is a greater variation between the moisture content of whole figs than between quarters of a single fig and the mean moisture content of a sample of figs can be determined with a standard error of 0.2–0.3%, by taking one quarter each from a number of whole figs. Data are presented for the moisture content/equilibrium relative humidity (e.r.h.) relationship of Turkish Lerida figs.     

Critical moisture content for microbial growth in dried food‐processing residues

BACKGROUND: Food‐processing residues are good feedstocks for biofuel and biochemical production because they have high energy content and are abundant. Year‐round biofuel and biochemical production requires proper storage to prevent microbial decomposition and thermal runaway. In this study, microbial activity of tomato pomace (TP), grape pomace (GP), fermented grape pomace (FGP) and sugar beet pulp (SBP) was monitored at nine different moisture contents. RESULTS: Maximum and cumulative respirations for each feedstock with respect to moisture content followed a sigmoidal relationship. The critical moisture content below which no microbial activity was detected for SBP, TP, FGP and GP was 24–31, 16–21, 23–33 and 43–46% (dry basis) respectively. A logarithmic relationship was observed (R² = 0.94) between critical moisture content and initial water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content of the processing residues. CONCLUSION: The critical moisture content below which no microbial activity was detected and the relationship between critical moisture content and initial WSC content were determined in this study for four food‐processing residues. Both parameters permit evaluation of the potential for deterioration of food‐processing residues during storage based on moisture content and WSC content. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

水分含量对南酸枣糕质构和色泽的影响

通过分析不同水分含量对南酸枣糕的质构特性和色度指标的影响,探讨南酸枣糕水分含量与质构特性和色度指标的相关性。结果表明,南酸枣糕的水分含量在12.1%～35.4%的范围,其质构特性(硬度、咀嚼性、胶着性、黏性、弹性)都随着水分含量的降低而逐渐增大,而弹性在水分含量为20.0%～22.5%和12.1%～14.1%时基本保持不变;且水分含量在12.1%～22.5%时,南酸枣糕的水分含量与质构特性之间存在明显的线性相关性。南酸枣糕的色泽也随着水分含量而变化,水分含量降低时,其黄度、绿度逐渐增加,亮度呈先增加后减弱的趋势;且水分含量在12.1%～20.0%时,南酸枣糕的亮度和绿度与水分含量之间存在明显的线性相关性。     

织物含水率对其湿摩擦性的影响

织物的摩擦性能在一定程度上可以间接地反映其刺痒感和湿黏感。选用4种不同规格的聚酯/棉/麻混纺织物,利用FTT织物触感仪对织物进行动摩擦性能测试,通过调节织物含水率,模拟不同的湿度环境,研究织物在被汗液或雨水浸湿后表面动摩擦因数的变化。结果显示:织物含水率较小时,织物的动摩擦因数随着织物含水率的增加而呈现先增大后减小的趋势,织物刺痒感和湿黏感先增强后减弱;织物经、纬向摩擦性能由于织物密度不同而有所差异;当纱线中聚酯含量一定时,不同混纺比的聚酯/棉/麻织物摩擦性能的差异和规律并不明显。     

Prediction of moisture content in steamed and dried purple sweet potato using hyperspectral imaging analysis

Food Science and Biotechnology - Partial least squares regression (PLSR) modeling was performed to predict the moisture content in steamed, dried purple sweet potato based on spectral data obtained...     

Determination of moisture content and equilibrium relative humidity of dried fruit—Sultanas

A vacuum oven method is recommended for the determination of the moisture content of sultanas, drying to constant weight at 70°C, and at a pressure of 5 mm Hg or less, for 24 hr. It is shown that accuracy of better than 0·5 per cent cannot be guaranteed and that day to day variation, and oven position variation are encountered. A distillation method, using toluene as the entrainer, over a period of $\text{2}\text{1}\text{2}\text{hr}$, gives satisfactory estimates of moisture content when a ‘rapid’ but less accurate estimate is required. Data are presented for the moisture content/equilibrium relative humidity (e.r.h.) relationship of Turkish sultanas.