Freezing of potato tissue pre-treated by pulsed electric fields

The effects of pulsed electric fields (PEF) pre-treatment on the freezing, freeze-drying and rehydration behavior of potato were studied. Potato samples (26 mm diameter, 10 mm high) were treated by PEF (400 V/cm) for various durations between 10⁻⁴ and 0.3 s. The degree of tissue damage was quantified by the change in electrical conductivity. PEF treated and untreated samples were either frozen in an air-blast freezer with air at −35 °C and 2 m/s velocity or freeze-dried at 0 °C and 0.04 mbar pressure and then rehydrated in water at 25 °C. The freezing times for PEF pre-treated samples reduced as the PEF-induced tissue damage increased. Scanning electron microscope images of the air-blast frozen and then freeze-dried samples showed increased deformation of cells and larger intercellular spaces (frozen samples only) for the PEF pre-treated samples. However, PEF pre-treatment improved the rate of freeze-drying and improved the quality and rehydration of the samples.