Qualidade de pimentões amarelos minimamente processados tratados com antioxidantes

Abstract

Antioxidants have been used in vegetable in order to reduce the loss of nutritional value and extend the shelf life. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different antioxidant compounds on the preservation of quality, microbiological and nutritional characteristics of fresh-cut yellow bell peppers. The bell peppers were submitted to treatments with solutions of 1% ascorbic acid; 1% citric acid; 0.5% salicylic acid and 2% EDTA and stored at 5°C and 90%RH for fourteen days. The ascorbic acid addition allowed the replacement of the ascorbic acid losses in the product and its maintenance during storage, whereas in the other treatments there was decrease in the content of this acid. The content of carotenoids was reduced by approximately 30% after processing in all treatments. The increase in respiratory rate and ethylene production was attenuated with the application of the three acids, without effect of EDTA. The treatments did not affect the microbiology of the product, and has not been verified presence of Salmonella. The count of total and fecal coliforms, and psychrotrophic bacteria were below the maximum allowed by legislation.