Zein-based anti-browning cling wraps for fresh-cut apple slices

The usage of cling wraps is emerging as an easy and cost-effective approach to protect fresh-cut fruits and vegetables from dust, whilst improving visual appeal on retail counters. This study focused on developing an alternate, protein-based packaging material as a food grade cling wrap for food packaging applications. Zein-based cling wraps were produced, and their physical and mechanical characteristics were evaluated and compared with conventionally used chitosan biopolymer films and commercial synthetic polymer films. Antioxidant potential of the prepared films was studied, and the effectiveness of the developed films as anti-browning cling wraps was evaluated using studies conducted on fresh-cut apple slices at ambient conditions. Anti-browning effects were in par with polymeric counterparts; however, zein cling wraps could better prevent weight loss in apple slices. Zein-based films can be adopted as biodegradable food grade cling wraps as an alternative to chitosan and synthetic polymeric materials.     

Effect of Calcium Lactate, 4-Hexyl Resorcinol and Vacuum Packing on Physico-chemical, Sensory and Microbiological Qualities of Minimally Processed Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruits are very susceptible to pericarp browning which adversely affects consumer acceptability even though the aril portion remains in excellent condition. Litchi arils (litchis) were treated with a solution containing 0–2% (w/v) calcium lactate (CL), 0–0.02% (w/v) 4‐hexyl resorcinol (4‐HR) and 1% potassium sorbate. The pH of solution was adjusted to 4.0 with citric acid. Treated litchis were packed in polystyrene trays, over‐wrapped with polypropylene film, vacuum‐packed (0, 47409.3, 94831.9 Pa) and stored at 4 ± 2 °C. Drip losses, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), sensory attributes and microbiological quality of stored samples were estimated. A four‐factor, three‐level experimental design (D₆ Hokes design) with 19 experiments was chosen. Mathematical models were developed to analyse and predict the effect of CL, 4‐HR, in‐package vacuum and storage time on the responses. TSS, pH and sensory scores decreased significantly (P 0.01), whereas drip losses and microbial count increased significantly (P 0.01) with time. Drip loss was significantly (P 0.1) reduced by addition of CL. 4‐HR prevented browning and changes in colour score during storage were significantly less. Vacuum in packages exerted significant (P 0.01) effect over pH, TSS, sensory and microbiological qualities of minimally processed litchis.     

ANALYSIS OF OPEN SUN DRYING EXPERIMENTS

Open sun drying has lost its previous importance due to the fact that different factors affect its reliability and the quality of the products obtained.

One of the set-backs for the analysis of solar drying exoeriments is their deoendence on a non-controlled source of energy, i.e. solar radiation depends on climatic conditions and experiments are difficult to compare. It is thus necessary to investigate the advantages of a particular set up as well as the climatic influences. Open sun drying could constitute the natural reference, allowing the comparison of different drying strategies.

A new way of standardizing drying times, based on solar radiation inout, is proposed, to allow better evaluation of the experiments. An equivalent time is defined, allowing comparison of experiments carried out under different circumstances. Carrots and potatoes were used in these experiments.

The use of the average daily solar radiation 15.28 MJ m^-2.d^-1 in Palma de Mallorca (39.33°N, 2.37°E), is proposed for comparison purposes. An improvement of more than 12 % in the explained variance was observed, the unexplained variance being lower than 1 %.     

速冻紫薯仔的加工工艺研究

紫薯仔是以紫薯为原料加工而成的方便速食产品,本文将糖、奶油和面粉的添加量3个因素进行正交试验,结果表明,糖的比例对紫薯仔成品品质的影响最大,其次是奶油的比例,面粉在20%以下的比例范围下,对紫薯仔品质的影响最小。     

迭香精油活性贴对鲜切猪肉保鲜效果的研究

目的 为了提高迷迭香精油(REO)的稳定性,开发出一种安全、便捷的实用型活性包装。方法 以迷迭香精油为活性成分,采用三步法(乳化、包埋、多层复合)制备出精油缓释活性贴,并验证其对鲜切猪肉的保鲜效果。结果 在4 ℃下,不同比例的迷迭香精油活性贴均可在一定程度上抑制鲜切猪肉的腐败变质,最佳处理效果的体积比为4∶6,贮藏至第6天时,猪肉的pH值、挥发性盐基氮(TVB–N)含量、硫代巴比妥酸(TBARS)值较空白对照(CK)分别降低了0.7 mg/g、0.073 1 mg/g、0.63 mg/kg;延缓了猪肉色度、汁液流失率、菌落总数(TVC)、感官品质的变化,可延长鲜切猪肉货架期2 d左右。结论 制备的缓释型活性贴具有稳定性好、操作简单易行的优势。作为绿色、可生物降解的包装材料,在食品保鲜领域具有潜在的应用价值。     

超高氧高阻隔膜气调包装对鲜切胡萝卜品质的影响

高氧气调包装是近年来研究较多的气调包装方式之一.研究了在不同储藏温度（4,15,25℃）下,高阻隔膜超高氧气调包装的鲜切胡萝卜品质变化规律（对照空气包装）.结果表明,超高氧气调包装显著增加了鲜切胡萝卜的失重率、呼吸强度,同时加速了维生素C、总胡萝卜素含量的损失,但能提高多酚类物质含量.总之,高阻隔膜超氧气调包装不能有效地维持鲜切胡萝卜的品质.     

马铃薯在四川的传播及对川菜的影响

清朝嘉庆年间,四川开始种植马铃薯,清朝末年,马铃薯己栽种四川遍野。马铃薯逐渐渗透并完全融入川菜体系,不仅成为四川面点小吃和饭粥的重要原料,丰富了人们的馔品选择,而且成为四川菜肴的重要原料,极大地丰富了四川菜肴品种。     

Influences of superheated steaming and roasting on the quality and antioxidant activity of cooked sweet potatoes

Roasted sweet potato is a popular food because of the attractive aroma produced by the Maillard reaction. However, the roasting process may lead to charred skin. Cooking with superheated (saturated) steam provides a solution to this problem. As the results show, when comparing sweet potatoes cooked by superheated steam, and those roasted for 40 min, respectively, the degree of gelatinisation could reach as high as 95% with only 140 °C superheated steam, while roasting required temperatures up to 240 °C. Moreover, in appearance, the skins of the sweet potatoes cooked using superheated steam were not charred like the roasted ones. However, sweet potatoes roasted at 240 °C for 60 min had the highest overall sensory score. When comparing the antioxidant activity, the sweet potatoes cooked by superheated steam had the highest content of total phenol and flavonoids, the best scavenging ability of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the highest ferric‐reducing ability of plasma (FRAP).     

Efficacy of thyme oil-alginate-based coating in reducing foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut apples

In this study, the inhibition of an alginate-based edible coating (EC) containing thyme oil (0.05%, 0.35% and 0.65%) was evaluated against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated onto fresh-cut apples. To investigate the antibacterial mechanism of thyme oil, the constituent compounds of that were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the cellular damage of pathogens was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that alginate-based EC containing thyme oil effectively inhibited the growth of pathogens on fresh-cut apples. GC-MS analysis revealed thymol (47.23%) as the major compounds in thyme oil. SEM showed that the cell membrane of foodborne pathogens was damaged by thyme oil, causing their inactivation. Treatment with alginate-based EC containing 0.05% thyme oil preserved the sensory characteristics of fresh-cut apples. Therefore, using alginate-based EC with thyme oil may represent a potential approach to preserve and enhance the safety of fresh-cut apples.