This study investigated the effect of heat treatments on the quality characteristics of fresh-cut 'Romaine' lettuce by treating in hot water (45, 50, and 55℃) for 2 minutes. Sensory properties, respiration rate, ethylene production, microbial growth, browning index, total phenolics (TP), vitamin C, and antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) of samples were evaluated after 5 days at 5℃. All heat treatment conditions tested in this study did not affect the change in TP after storage. Treatment at 45℃ enhanced respiration rate and ethylene production wheres decreased vitamin C content and antioxidant activities. There was no significant difference in browning index at 45℃ treatment. The rapid tissue softening occurred when treated with 55℃ hot water for 2 minutes. The 50℃ heat treatments exhibited the best quality index including texture and color, and inhibited microbial growth and browning after storage. In addition, the 50℃ heat treatment showed the highest vitamin C content and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP assay) after storage. Therefore, the 50℃ heat treatment can be used to maintain quality and antioxidant property of fresh-cut ‘Romain’ lettuce.

This study investigated that anti-browning effects of Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract and L-cysteine combination. Mushrooms were dipped in solutions (0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine) for 3 min. The dipped mushrooms were packaged in a polystyrene (PS) tray and wrapped with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, and stored for 14 days at 10℃. The browning inhibition activity (Hunter L, a, b color scale and tyrosinase inhibition activity) and quality changes (weight loss rate, gas composition, firmness and sensory evaluation) were analyzed during storage period. After 14 days, the Hunter L and ΔE value of mushrooms treated in 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine were 87.24 and 5.56, respectively. The mushrooms treated with 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine also showed higher firmness (13.31 N) and smaller weight loss rate (2.87%) than the untreated mushroom (11.42 N, 3.04%) on storage day 14. During storage period, the sensory evaluation showed that overall acceptability of mushrooms treated with 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine were higher than those of the untreated mushrooms, except those that were stored for five days. Overall, the mushrooms treated with 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine had a higher tyrosinase inhibition activity than the untreated mushrooms during storage period. This study suggests that the browning of the mushrooms treated with 0.1% Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract containing 0.05% L-cysteine solution were inhibited, and the that their shelf life was extended.

Mushrooms have a shorter shelf-life than most vegetables because of their very high respiration rates, sensitivity to enzymatic browning and susceptibility to microbial spoilage. This study was conducted to investigate effects of various packaging materials and precooling on the quality of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). Mushrooms were precooled at 4℃ for three hours and packaged using the following packaging materials; 1) polyethylene (PE) film bags of 0.03 mm thickness, 2) polypropylene (PP) film bags of 0.03 mm thickness, and 3) polystyrene (PS) tray+polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wrapper. The physiological changes (weight loss, gas composition, color, firmness, and sensory evaluation) associated with postharvest deterioration were monitored for 17 days at 10℃. The results showed that the PP film bag maintained quality of mushrooms most effectively, especially PP film bags inhibited decreasing firmness. The samples also exhibited smaller decreases in weight loss rate (0.57%) and Hunter L value (84.44) than PS tray+PVC wrapper (7.73%, 82.19) and PE film bags (0.89%, 82.96). Sensory evaluation level in all samples remained relatively constant during the first 5 days of storage. However, PE film bags and PS tray+PVC wrapper showed lower score of flavor, texture and color than PP film bags after 8 days of storage. This study suggested that PP film bag packaging effectively extends shelf-life of mushrooms during storage.

This study was carried out to investigate the packaging status of the Agaricus bisporus mushrooms and the benefits of storing them after precooling to improve their distribution system using small packages. The packaging status of the Agaricus bisporus mushrooms was surveyed at a farm, a department store, a wholesale market, and a supermarket from May to September 2011. The packaging materials that were used were PS, carton, PP, LDPE, PLA, and PVC. The harvested Agaricus bisporus mushrooms were precooled at 4℃ for three hours and were then stored at 20℃ for three days. The weight loss rate of the precooled sample was slightly lower than that of the unprecooled sample; conversely, the L value of the precooled sample was higher than that of the unprecooled sample. The △E value was lowest in the precooled sample after packaging. The precooling process effectively prolonged the shelf life and enhanced the quality of the Agaricus bisporus mushrooms.