Osmotic dehydration of diced green peppers was optimized with respect to temperature (20e40 C), time (15e600 min), salt (0e10 g/100 g) and sorbitol (0e10 g/100 g) concentrations through response surface methodology. Water loss (WL), solids gain (SG), salt uptake (SA) and sorbitol uptake (SO) were the responses in a 2 4 central composite rotatable design. Models developed for all responses were significant ( p 0.01) without significant lack of fit. Results suggested that optimum processing conditions of 5.5 g salt/100 g and 6 g sorbitol/100 g at 30 C after 240 min would result in WL ¼ 23.3%, SG ¼ 4.1%, SA ¼ 8 g/100 g dry pepper and SO ¼ 2.4 g/100 ml extract.
A 25–2 fractional factorial design was used to investigate the effect of salt (2–10%), sorbitol (0–10%) concentration, agitation (0–80 r.p.m.), tissue to solution ratio (1:3 to 1:6) and temperature (20–50 °C) on weight loss, solids gain, salt and sorbitol uptake, water activity, tissue brix and solution brix, during osmotic dehydration (OD) of diced green peppers. Results showed that salt and sorbitol concentration were the most significant factors. In the first half hour of the osmotic process, salt and sorbitol significantly increased weight loss, solids gain and tissue brix, and decreased water activity. Temperature was also a significant factor. It increased weight loss during the first 2 h of the process, and decreased water activity after 20 h of osmosis. Agitation and tissue to solution ratio were less important.
The effect of pH modification and preservative addition in apple cider on the heat resistance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was investigated. E. coli O157:H7 and various amounts of potassium sorbate (0 to 0.2%), sodium benzoate (0 to 0.2%), and malic acid (0 to 1%) were added to apple cider. Thermal inactivation experiments were performed at 47, 50, and 53 degrees C, and D- and z-values were calculated. In apple cider without additives, the D-value at 50 degrees C (D50) was about 65 min, but addition of preservatives and malic acid significantly (P < 0.01) decreased D-values. D50-values decreased to 13.9 min in cider with 0.5% malic acid, 13.2 min with 0.1% sorbate, and 7.0 min with 0.1% benzoate added. Addition of both sorbate and malic acid had similar effects as either one alone, thus additive effects were not present. However, addition of both 0.2% benzoate and 1% malic acid did show additive effects, lowering D50 to 0.3 min. Addition of all three components (0.2% sorbate, 0.2% benzoate, and 1% malic acid) resulted in a D50 = 18 s. The z-value of cider without additives was about 6 degrees C, whereas z-values of cider containing malic acid, benzoate, and/or sorbate ranged from about 6 degrees C to 26 degrees C. This increase may result in a longer 5-log reduction time at higher temperatures (i.e., 70 degrees C) in cider with benzoate as compared to cider without additives.
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