Food Technology
Narmela Asefi; Nasibeh Alirezaloo; Pouya Barman Veisi; Haleh Soraiyay Zafar
Abstract
Introduction Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum) has a very important place among the vegetables produced in the world. Therefore, it is necessary to apply practical solutions to increase their sustainability to develop and improve production. The growing consumer rejection of chemical additives and the ...
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Introduction Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum) has a very important place among the vegetables produced in the world. Therefore, it is necessary to apply practical solutions to increase their sustainability to develop and improve production. The growing consumer rejection of chemical additives and the demand for more natural products have increased attention to some methods, including the drying method. One of the physical changes that occur during the drying of food is its reduction in volume. Vacuum drying is a method in which water and other solvents that have been absorbed into the volume or surface of the material are removed. Combining vacuum with heating can be an effective way to dry; because in this case, a high level of dryness can be achieved without the need for a large increase in temperature. A thermal process that is applied to vegetables and fruits as a pre-process step for freezing, drying and canning to inactivating enzymes, modifying texture, preserving flavor and nutrients, and extracting Interstitial air. Materials and Methods This study aimed to investigate the impact of various factors ethyloleate (concentrations 0,2,4%), sodium chloride(concentrations 0,2,4%) and blanching on the drying kinetics, physical properties, chemical composition and nutrients of green bell pepper, dried under vacuum at 60°C and pressure of 10 kpa using the response surface methodology. At the end of the drying time, 10 g of the treated samples were weighted to investigate the drying kinetics and the rest of the samples were kept for analysis. To achieve the drying kinetics, the samples were taken out of the oven (Behdad Company, model 3494, made in Iran) at 30 minute intervals and weighed by a digital scale, and dried down to moisture content of 12% ., and then for relevant analyzes on dried samples, the samples were stored in plastic packages until the day of experiments. Investigation of independent and interaction effects of immersion in different concentrations of sodium chloride and ethyloleate solution on the kinetics and drying time separately in blanching and non-blanching samples on the parameters of color, chlorophyll content, phenolic substances and vitamin C remaining in dried Sweet peppers were evaluated using minitab16 software and response level method (RSM). Results and Discussion The results showed that the drying process occur in the range of falling rate and also effect blanching in boiling water for 3 minutes and immersed in an alkaline solution of ethyloleate and sodium chloride with concentrations of 2 and 4% for 1 minute, significantly increase the drying rate. In blanching and treated samples with 4% ethyloleate and sodium chloride, the drying time was about 3.5 hours, while the control sample was dried under the same conditions for 7.5 hours. Pretreatment of samples, showed the chlorophyll content, phenolic compounds and vitamin C were higher than the control sample. Due to the effectiveness of ethyloleate in the protection of ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds and residual chlorophyll, the highest amount of ascorbic acid with a value of 39.77 was related to the samples treated in ethyloleate solution with a concentration of 4% and 4% NaCl and the minimum value of 17.98 was related to the control treatment. The highest amount of residual chlorophyll was 23.6 in the pretreated samples with a concentration of 4% ethyloleate and 4% NaCl and the lowest amount was related to the control sample with a concentration of 12.9%. The color of the dried samples showed that the lowest amount of color changes was related to the non-blanching sample with 4% ethyloleate and 4% NaCl with a value of 4.94. While the blanching and ethyloleate solution had no positive effect on the color of pepper and dried samples were dark. Comparison of blanching with non-blanching shows that blanching samples cause darkening of the primary color of the samples.The best sample in terms of quality and speed of drying, was belonged to the samples which blanched, treated with 4% solution of ethyloleate and sodium chloride. Conclusion In order to achieve the best quality in vacuum drying of pepper samples, pretreatments of blanching and using a concentration of 4% solution of ethyloleate and sodium chloride showed the most desirable quality. The best quality of dried samples were obtained when subjected to constant temperature and pressure during drying conditions. The benefits obtained using the pretreatment of ethyloleate and sodium chloride as an appropriate method of drying include increasing the absorption of water, keeping the chlorophyll, phenolic compounds and vitamin C content with time-saving in drying.
Food Engineering
Mohsen Azadbakht; Bahareh Eshaghi; Ali Motevali; Azim Ghasemnezhad
Abstract
In this study, temperatures (40, 50, and 60°C), air velocity (3, 5, and 7 m/s) and pre-treatment (without pre-treatment, blanching, and microwave) were used as variables for investigation of antioxidant activity of dried artichoke leaves. The results revealed that variations in temperature and air ...
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In this study, temperatures (40, 50, and 60°C), air velocity (3, 5, and 7 m/s) and pre-treatment (without pre-treatment, blanching, and microwave) were used as variables for investigation of antioxidant activity of dried artichoke leaves. The results revealed that variations in temperature and air velocity of the drying chamber and different pre-treatments significantly affected the free radical scavenging level and total phenol content in this plant. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that by increasing the temperature and air velocity and using blanching and microwave pre-treatments, the free radical scavenging level and total phenol content increased. The maximum percentage of free radical scavenging was 72.08% at 60°C and an air velocity of 7 m/s in the drying state by using microwave pre-treatment. The maximum total phenol content was 3.55 mg/g of dry matter at 60°C and an air velocity of 7 m/s in the drying state by using microwave pre-treatment.
Atosa Assarzadegan; Mohammad Fazel
Abstract
Introduction: The fruit, with the scientific name of Cydonia oblonga comes from apple family, has a dry and fluffy flesh that, due to high vitamin C, Potassium and fiber has commercial and nutritional value. However, this fruit is as corruptible as other fruits and destructive microbial, chemical and ...
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Introduction: The fruit, with the scientific name of Cydonia oblonga comes from apple family, has a dry and fluffy flesh that, due to high vitamin C, Potassium and fiber has commercial and nutritional value. However, this fruit is as corruptible as other fruits and destructive microbial, chemical and mechanical factors that reduce its effective longevity. Enzymatic browning is a major problem for reducing the shelf life of freshly chopped fruits and vegetables. This reaction often occurs due to the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes. Blanching is used to deactivate the relevant enzymes. Blanching is done before such processes as drying, canning, and freezing and somewhat determines the quality of the product. Sulfites are multi-functional compounds that inhibit enzymatic and non-enzymatic browning. Dehydration is one of the oldest techniques for keeping food products. Osmotic dehydration process has been emphasized in recent years due to the negative effects of conventional drying procedures, this process is done to partially remove the water from the plant tissue by immersion in a salt or salt solution. Chitosan is non-toxic, biodegradable substance that can be used as an edible coating to maintain the quality and increase the life after the fruits and vegetables harvest. This protective performance improves by adding antimicrobial, antioxidant. The lemongrass extract was added to the chitosan coating as antimicrobial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of chitosan coating containing lemongrass extract on the shelf life of dehydrated quince fruit slices.
Materials and methods: Metabisulfite was used in order to prevent the browning reactions of slices prepared from blanching, water vapor and chemical solution of sodium. Then, quince slices are dehydrated with osmotic solutions of sorbitol, sucrose by immersion with chitosan containing (0, 0/5, 1 and 2 % lemongrass extract) coated and kept in sterile plates at refrigeration temperature (4±1˚C) for 4 weeks. The experiment was carried out in factorial method based on a completely randomized design with three iterations. Variables include the type of osmotic solution (sucrose, sorbitol) and coating treatments (chitosan coating containing 0, 0/5, 1 and 2% lemongrass extract). The studied characteristics included weight loss (%), acidity, pH, ascorbic acid concentration, total phenol, inhibitory activity of free radical (RSA), color properties (components L*, a*, b*, BI) of tissue that was investigated in the first, second, third and fourth week.
Results & discussion: Fruits coated with chitosan containing 2% lemongrass extract had less weight loss changes than other treatments. This can be due to the role of the extract in preventing decay, its antimicrobial properties and the formation of the semipermeable membrane by coating, which prevents weight loss. Edible coatings containing extract, by changing the internal atmosphere and reducing the respiration rate of the fruit, help to maintain better organic acids .Lemongrasses extract causes the delay in the consumption of organic acids in metabolic reactions, including respiration, due to its antioxidant properties. It seems increasing the pH of the fruit is the result of biochemical changes in the fruit during storage time, such as the decomposition of organic acids into sugars and participating the respiratory cycle in which the coating of chitosan containing extract can reduce the breakdown of organic acids by reducing respiration rate. The decrease in the drop of Vitamin C and phenolic compounds of the coated sample is due to oxygen permeation reduction and the creation of adapted atmosphere by coating. The high level of antioxidant activity of lemongrass extract is because of high phenolic compounds of which the highest amount was observed in treatment coated with chitosan containing 2% lemongrass extract. By increasing the concentration of the extract, its phenolic compounds increases which preserve more vitamin C and phenolic compounds and consequently antioxidant properties. Free radical inhibition activity was preserved due to better preservation of phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and increasing the antioxidant capacity of fruit by chitosan coating containing lemongrass extract. The product brightness decreases during storage. Before the hot-water blanching coating process, sodium metabisulfite and osmotic dehydration have inactivated browning enzymes. Therefore, in quince coated with chitosan, the amount of color changes was not tangible due to the less respiration and as a result, less enzymatic activity of fruit. Coating containing lemongrass extract has created due to the color of coating extract with the green-tinted color. The increase in the extract concentration reduces the redness and increases the greenness of fruit, which is because of the extract color and as the effect increases, the concentration increases. By decreasing the brightness, increasing the greenness and yellowness during storage time and the browning increased. In quince coated with chitosan, the amount of softening wasn’t tangible due to less respiration and as a result, less enzymatic activity of fruit. As the concentration of lemongrass increases the stiffness of the tissue is reduced due to the effect of lemongrass on the fruit tissue cells that cause structural changes. Based on the results, the edible coating containing 2% lemongrass extract is suggested as the best formulation.
Hassan Sabbaghi; Aman Mohammad Ziaiifar; Mahdi Kashani-Nejad
Abstract
Introduction: L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is the most important vitamin in terms of nutrition. Ascorbic acid is a thermolabile (heat-sensitive) compound that can be degenerated aerobically or anaerobically. The degradation rates of ascorbic acid differ with the changes in environmental conditions such ...
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Introduction: L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is the most important vitamin in terms of nutrition. Ascorbic acid is a thermolabile (heat-sensitive) compound that can be degenerated aerobically or anaerobically. The degradation rates of ascorbic acid differ with the changes in environmental conditions such as temperature and water activity. It is ascertained that the other nutrients residing in a food can be preserved in case the Vitamin C content is preserved. Thus, the compound is considered as the nutritional quality index during the food processing. The simultaneous infrared dry-blanching and dehydration (SIRDBD) with intermittent heating method is a novel process in which the temperature is kept constant. Over-blanching causes product quality decline and nutrients, especially vitamins, deterioration. Therefore, the precise process conditions (time and temperature) are specified with the objective of preventing over-processing. To do so, such factors as access to the specific center temperature, access to a certain level of enzymatic inactivation and preservation of a given ratio of Vitamin C should be taken into account. This is subject to the biophysical properties of fruits and slices size and shape. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate operating conditions for blanching step. For this purpose, the effect of irradiation temperature and thickness of the product on the destruction of polyphenol oxidase (enzymatic browning agent) and vitamin C were investigated.
Materials and methods: Apple slices (Golden Delicious variety) were prepared with thickness of 5, 9 and 13 mm and 20 mm in diameter. Irradiation was carried out at three constant temperatures of 70, 75, and 80 ° C. The central temperature of the product was recorded during processing. To evaluate the enzymatic activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and its effect on the product color, apple slices were removed from the device in 2- minute intervals and the process was continued till the time no sign of color change stemming from catechol reagent addition was observable. Vitamin C content measurement was carried out with 30- minute intervals during drying till apple slice reaches constant weight. It was performed based on titration by the use of 2, 6-Dichlorophenol-Indophenol (DCPIP). To calculate the browning index (BI) due to PPO activity, image acquisition was made with the use of a flatbed scanner. The treated samples were placed on the scanner and then a black box was utilized so as to prevent the interferences of the peripheral lights and light reflections. The images featured a 300 dpi quality and were saved in TIFF-24 bit format. Color analysis of the obtained images was carried out in color spaces L*a*b* by the use of “color space convertor” pelagin in ImageJ software, version 1.6.0. Statistical analyses were carried out in SPSS software, version 19. To do so and in order to assess the time required time for the blanching, there was made use of completely randomized design (CRD) in factorial format (32) considering two factors, namely thickness (in three levels) and temperature (in three levels). The statistical analyses of the vitamin degradation kinetic constant (k), as well, were conducted based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) in the course of which the temperature and thickness were considered as the block and the treatment, respectively. Mean comparisons were undertaken based on Duncan test in a 95% confidence level (P
Hassan Sabbaghi; Aman Mohammad Ziaiifar; Mahdi Kashani-Nejad
Abstract
Introduction: Color is the most important feature of food appearance, since it strongly affects consumer acceptance. The abnormal color is closely related to degradation of food quality or food spoilage. Various factors affecting color of the product include the composition and surface properties of ...
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Introduction: Color is the most important feature of food appearance, since it strongly affects consumer acceptance. The abnormal color is closely related to degradation of food quality or food spoilage. Various factors affecting color of the product include the composition and surface properties of the foodstuff, process conditions (temperature and time), and the type of pretreatment processes. Therefore, for the design of a new process, kinetic modeling is essential for extracting basic kinetic information in a system to predict changes. Intermittent irradiation is the novel processing method in food industry which the surface temperature of product is kept constant. Darkening process occur in the fruit slices during drying, resulting in undesirable color changes. Undesirable color variations can be attributed to Millard's browning reactions between sugar and amine compounds or ascorbic acid oxidation. Thermal degradation kinetic models define maximum maintenance conditions for qualitative factors to produce a safe food. Color descriptive models are known as zero order, first order, and fractional conversion model. The fractional conversion model represents the response rate required at a given time to complete a phenomenon. This modeling is necessary for designing online quality control systems for thermal processing in the food industry and preserving the apparent quality of the product by optimizing the most important drying parameters. In this study, the kinetic of color changes in apple slices was investigated, in order to maintain appearance quality of product during simultaneous infrared dry-blanching and dehydration with intermittent irradiation.
Materials and Methods: Apple slices (Golden Delicious Variety) were dried in three thicknesses of 5, 9 and 13 mm using three constant surface temperatures of 70, 75 and 80 ° C. Image acquisition of apple slices was made use of a flatbed scanner with an interval of 15 minutes during processing. The treated samples were placed on the scanner and then a black box was utilized so as to prevent the interferences of the peripheral lights. The images featured a 300 dpi quality and were saved in TIFF-24 bit format. The color analysis of the images was carried out in color space of L*a*b* by the use ImageJ software, version 1.6.0. The lightness parameter (L), redness (a), yellowness (b), the intensity of the color changes (∆E), chroma (Cr) and browning index (BI) were described during product processing using fractional conversion model. Equilibrium color parameters (Cf) were also used as an indicator to compare different process conditions. The fitting of the model was done using the curve fitting toolbox in the 2009 version of the MATLAB software with 95% confidence level (P
Nina Daliri; Fariba Zeynali; Mohsen Esmaiili
Abstract
In this research the effect of oil type, process time ,temperature and pre-treating methods on moisture content, oil uptake, acidity and peroxide values of Zucchini slices (Cucurbita pepo. L) during deep fat frying process were investigated. The samples were pretreated by blanching (97 ºC for 5 ...
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In this research the effect of oil type, process time ,temperature and pre-treating methods on moisture content, oil uptake, acidity and peroxide values of Zucchini slices (Cucurbita pepo. L) during deep fat frying process were investigated. The samples were pretreated by blanching (97 ºC for 5 min) and microwave (900 W for 2min) methods before frying process. Frying experiments were carried out at two temperatures of 130 and 170 ºC for 7 and 4 minutes respectively by using two types of oil i.e. sunflower and special frying oils. The results showed that moisture content, oil uptake, acidity and peroxide values were significantly affected by temperatures, pretreatments and oil type (p
