The effect of apple pomace powder and calcium ions on selected physicochemical properties of freeze-dried carrot-orange-ginger snacks.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effect of various amounts of dried apple pomace (AP) powder and calcium ions on selected physicochemical properties of restructured freeze-dried snacks in comparison with products obtained with low-methoxyl pectin (LMP). The material was prepared using frozen carrot, orange concentrate, ginger, water, and various concentrations of AP (1, 3, 5%) and calcium lactate (0, 0.01, 0.05%). The reference samples were without additives, and with 0.5 or 1.5% of LMP combined with 0.01% of calcium lactate. RESULTS: The material was studied in terms of water content and activity, hygroscopic properties, structure, texture, color, and polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant activity. The addition of AP resulted in reducing water activity and porosity. As a consequence of the increasing density of the structure, the reduction of hygroscopic properties by up to 16% followed the increasing amount of AP. Apple pomace and calcium ions strengthened the structure. The addition of 3% and 5% of AP gave a hardening effect close to or better than 0.5% LMP. Because of the pigment dilution, LMP caused significantly greater total color change than AP. The incorporation of AP also increased TPC and enhanced antioxidant activity in comparison with the reference materials by up to 18%. CONCLUSION: The results showed that dried AP powder can be applied successfully as an additive enhancing stability, texture and bioactive compound content, thus fortifying the physicochemical properties of restructured freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.