This paper presents a literature review on the active technologies to regulate the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in Kimchi packaging. In this study, laser-etched pouches and O2 scavengers were used for Kimchi packaging, and the efficiency of each packaging technique to regulate the CO2 and O2 levels inside Kimchi packages was investigated. When Kimchi was packaged with a laser-etched pouch, the CO2 concentration in the sample with a high gas transmission rate was less than that in other pouches (p<0.05), and a low CO2 level had little effect on the expansion of the package volume. Kimchi treated with an O2 absorber exhibited a significantly lower (p<0.05) O2 concentration inside the packages relative to the control. A low O2 concentration inside the Kimchi package effectively inhibited the growth of total aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria, as well as yeasts and molds on Kimchi. These results suggest that O2 absorbers have a positive effect on the microbial quality of Kimchi. Therefore, packaging in a laser-etched pouch and the use of an O2 scavenger could provide a novel packaging material for regulating the CO2 and O2 levels during Kimchi packaging.
This study was conducted to determine the potential use for salted Kimchi cabbage and kimchi paste by analyzing the quality characteristic of kimchi prepared with stored them. Salted Kimchi cabbages were packed with the 2% brine and kimchi paste were stored at 4℃ for 8 weeks, respectively. Kimchi prepared at 0 day and kimchi prepared with stored salted Kimchi cabbage and kimchi paste every week were stored at 4℃ for 8 weeks. The salinity and titratable acidity of salted Kimchi cabbage packed with the brine was lower than control. The results of salinity, pH and moisture contents of kimchi paste did not show any significant differences during storage, however, the titratable acidity was increased. In sensory evaluation, salted Kimchi cabbage packed with the brine showed higher score in overall preference than control. Kimchi paste showed 4.9~6.1 score in overall preference during storage. The titratable acidity of kimchi prepared with stored salted Kimchi cabbage and kimchi paste was lower than control. But, the results of sensory evaluation did not show significant difference among treatments. The study suggested that the use of 2% brine is an effective way for extending shelf-life of salted Kimchi cabbage and Kimchi prepared with stored salted Kimchi cabbage and kimchi paste every week is effective to delay the fermentation but no difference in sensory evaluation.