The effect of temperature distribution in the retort on the degree of sterilization and the product quality was investigated. The temperature distribution in the retort chamber in an industrial scale of retort was evaluated. The target processing temperature was set to 121.1°C based on the standard sterilization process for C. botulinum. The temperature distributions at several points in the retort chamber were measured during the sterilization process, such as the heating (25°C to 121.1°C), holding (121.1°C), and cooling (121.1°C to 25°C) processes. Fo-values at different positions in the chamber were evaluated and compared. Potato cubes were used as a control sample to obtain the heat penetration curve for evaluating the degree of sterilization and the quality changes. Potato samples in cube shape (13×13×13 mm) were prepared and packed in 5 kg of retort pouch pack. A significant temperature deviation occurred during the cooling process and it significantly affected the degree of sterilization.

Quality changes of retort pouched curry sauces were studied under various sterilization and storage conditions. The retort pouched curry sauces sterilized at 110oC for 30 min and stored at 37oC showed the lowest sensory qualities among the tested samples. Meanwhile, when the sample was sterilized at 101oC for 60 min and stored at 4oC, the quality changes of the sauces were not significant during 30 days of storage. The taste sensing results of curry sauces showed that there were not a lot of changes in flavor when stored at 4oC while the sauces stored at 37oC showed increases in bitterness and sourness which eventually caused degradation of total quality. Sensory evaluation results of the samples stored at 4oC (4.3 points) and at 37oC (3.5 points) also coincided with the taste sensing results. Conclusively, it is desirable to sterilize the retort pouched curry sauce at 101oC for 60 min and to store at 4oC until consumption (if possible, within 30 days). Further, the acid value (1.01) and pH (3.88) of curry sauces were found to be used as quality change indices for references.

Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics were determined during storage at 15, 25, and 35℃ for six months to predict shelf-life of four fried rice retort dishes. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values were increased significantly and pH and acid values did not show any significant differences. Microbiological contamination levels were estimated as safe. Sensory evaluation were tested over 4 points during storage period. It maintained the commercial value during the shelf-life. TBA value as an effective quality indicator was used to estimate shelf-life with Arrhenius equation. The estimated shelf-life were 1,408 days (46 months) for beef fried rice, 1,353 days (44 months) for Ham fried rice, 1,164 (38 months) days for chicken curry fried rice and 1,182 (39 months) days for bacon tuna fried rice. In conclusion, shelf-life of all four fried rice dishes was predicted as longer than three years (36months) at room temperature.

현재 저온유통만 허가되어 있으며 저장유통기간이 짧은 게맛어묵에 레토르트 살균기술과 반응표면분석 법을 도입하여 기존의 풍미나 품질에 손상됨 없이 상온유통과 장기저장이 가능한 게맛어묵을 제조하기 위하여 가열살균기술의 최적화 조건을 구명하였고, 본 레토르트 살균처리가 게맛어묵의 품질특성에 미치 는 영향에 대하여 검토하였다. 반응표면분석의 독립변수는 살균량 (F0-value)과 가열온도로 하였으며, 이 들의 영향을 받는 가열살균 후의 품질인자, 즉 종속변수는 전단력, 백색도 및 관능적 조직감으로 나타내 었다. 레토르트 살균이 게맛어묵의 품질 및 전반적인 식품성분의 변화에 미치는 영향을 검토한 결과, F0-value 5분 이하의 가열살균에서는 F0-value보다는 가열온도가 게맛어묵의 품질 변화에 미치는 영향 이 큰 것으로 나타났으며, F0-value 2.6분 이상으로 가열살균할 경우 게맛어묵의 무균성이 확인되었다. 반응표면분석 program으로 설정한 레토르트 게맛어묵의 최적 가열살균조건은 전단력의 경우 가열온도는 115.7℃, F0-value 3.3분, 백색도는 가열온도 116.1℃, F0-value 3.8분, 그리고 관능적 조직감의 최대화 조건은 가열온도 115.8℃, F0-value 3.3분이었고, 이 3가지 품질요소를 모두 고려한 multiple response optimization 반응조건은 가열온도 117.5℃, F0-value는 3.3분이었다.