RESUMO
The effect of microwave (MW) treatment with different power densities (4.4, 7.7, and 11.0 W/g) on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and pectin methyl esterase (PME) inactivation in peach puree were studied, and the changes in color, rheological properties, total polyphenol and flavonoid and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. By using time/temperature data collected during MW heating, three cook values levels (0.36, 10, 24 min) for each power density were calculated. The PPO was significantly decreased from ca. 50% to ca. 5% when increasing the cook value level, regardless of power density applied. While PME significantly decreased from 40.6% to 10.2% when power density increased from 4.4 to 11.0 W/g at cook value 24 min. MW treatment did not alter the flow behaviour of peach puree. The apparent viscosity values of peach puree significantly increased after MW treatment with increasing cook value, regardless of power density applied. The L* values of peach puree significantly increased from 36.98 to 38.10 or more after MW treatment at cook value 10 min and 24 min. MW treatment could maintain the amount of total polyphenol, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacity, preserving the nutritional and functional values of the product.
RESUMO
Infrared heating was recently used to develop a more efficient roasting technology than traditional hot air roasting. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the shelf-life of almonds roasted with three different approaches, namely infrared (IR), sequential infrared and hot air (SIRHA) and regular hot air (HA). Nine medium roasted almond samples produced by the aforementioned heating methods were processed at three different temperatures (130, 140 and 150 °C), packed in paper bags and then stored at 37 °C for three, six or eight months. Shelf-life of the roasted almonds was determined by measuring the changes in colour, peroxide value, moisture content, water activity, volatile components and sensory quality. No significant difference was observed in moisture content and water activity among the almond samples processed with different roasting methods and stored under the same conditions. GC/MS analysis showed that aldehydes, alcohols, and pyrazines were the main volatile components of almonds. Aliphatic aldehydes such as hexanal, (E)-2-octenal, and nonanal were produced as off-odours during storage. Although the overall quality of roasted almonds produced with SIRHA and HA heating was similar during the first three months of storage, their peroxide value and concentration of aliphatic aldehydes differed significantly for different roasting methods and increased significantly in all roasted samples during storage. We postulate that hexanal and nonanal might be better indicators of the shelf life of roasted almonds than the current standard, peroxide value.
