Abstract

In order to increase the diffusion of cactus pearfruits, in this study, the proper maturity index for peeling andprocessing them as ready-to-eat product was evaluated andcharacterized. Thereafter, the effects of different storagetemperatures and modified atmosphere conditions on themarketability of ready-to-eat cactus pear were studied. Thestorage of ready-to-eat fruits at 4 °C in both passive (air) andsemi-active (10 kPa O2 and 10 kPa CO2) modifiedatmosphere improved the marketability by 30%, whereasthe storage at 8 °C caused a dangerous reduction in O2partial pressure inside modified atmosphere packages, due tofruits' increased metabolic activity. Avery low level of initialmicrobial growth was detected, while a severe increase inmesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria was shown in controlsamples at both temperatures during storage; an inhibitoryeffect of modified atmosphere on microbial growth was alsoobserved. In conclusion, modified atmosphere improvedonly the marketability of fruits stored at 4 °C; whereas thestorage at 8 °C resulted in deleterious effects on the ready-to eatfruits, whether stored in air or in modified atmosphere.

Autore Pugliese

• Pace Bernardo , Cefola Maria

Tutti gli autori

• Cefola M.; Renna M.; Pace B.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Journal of Food Science and Technology

Anno di pubblicazione

2014

ISSN

0022-1155

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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