Power Ultrasound Coupled with Modified Atmosphere Packaging: Synergistic Effects on the Shelf-Life of White Button Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

Abstract

This study investigated the application of ultrasound (US) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), alone and in combination, on the mechanical and physicochemical properties and appearance of button mushrooms to increase their shelf-life. The mushrooms were treated with US (40 kHz, 100 W) for 5, 10, and 15 min; packaged in modified atmosphere of 10% O2, 5% CO2, and 85% N2; and stored at ambient temperature of 4°C and 30±5% relative humidity for 12 days. The synergistic effect of 10 min US in combination with MAP had the best protective role on the quality characteristics of mushrooms such as total soluble solids, pH, lightness, total color changes, browning index, and weight loss. Also, the treatment recorded fairly appropriate effect on preserving the firmness of mushrooms. The result proved that US is effective to enhance storage quality and is a promising tool to improve storage quality and the preservative effect of MAP for mushrooms.