PECAN TEXTURE AS AFFECTED BY MOISTURE CONTENT BEFORE FREEZING AND THAWING RATE

The texture of pecans was determined as affected by initial moisture content before freezing (3 vs 5%), thawing rate (IX, 1.2X, 2.7X, 5.6X), and multiple freeze‐thaw cycles (0, 1X, 3X, 6X, 9X, 12X). Texture was determined by instrumental Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) and sensory evaluation. Initial moisture content before freezing had a significant effect on all of the sensory evaluation parameters (hardness, fracturability, cohesiveness, and denseness) and most of the instrumental TPA texture parameters (hardness, fracturability, springiness, resilience, and chewiness). Thawing rate only affected TPA hardness and resilience. TPA fracturability correlated best with sensory fracturability. The sensory panel could not detect any differences between the different thawing rates. The slowest thawing rate affected more parameters than the medium and faster rates. More freeze/thaw cycles significantly decreased most TPA texture values, especially for pecans at higher moisture content.