When kimchi is frozen and thawed, the amount of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast is usually reduced by more than 2 logs, and its texture including its crispness and hardness are changed significantly. As a possible means to minimize these problems, various freezing (direct freezer with -25, -40, and -60oC and plate freezer with -40oC) and thawing methods (radio frequency (RF) thawing, plate thawing, and room temperature thawing) were investigated in terms of the amount of LAB and texture of kimchi. From the use of plate freezing and plate thawing, the amount of LAB of white cabbage kimchi could be maintained by more than 10% of its initial amount while that for red cabbage kimchi could be maintained by more than the initial amount. Pretreatment with trehalose (19 oBrix soluble solid content) to salted Chinese cabbage could maintain kimchi’s hardness and crispness. In order to maintain the texture and the amount of LAB in kimchi, the use of the plate freezer (-40oC) and the plate thawing (20oC) seemed to be effective with the assistance of trehalose.

Commercial direct refrigerators have good energy efficiency, but are difficult to use for supercooled storage due to their large temperature deviation. Placing insulators and conductors inside the refrigerator could reduce these temperature deviations to within 0.3 degrees, allowing for the supercooled storage. The supercooled storage of salted Chinese cabbages during ten weeks was progressed to compare the other low temperature storages. The nucleation temperatures of salted Chinese cabbage were around -2.5oC and the freezing points were around -0.4oC, so -2oC was selected for the supercooled storage. The growth rate of lactic acid bacteria and yeast at -2oC storage was lower than that at 2oC storage. The reducing sugar was maintained higher due to the growth rate of lactic acid bacteria. The supercooled storage had an effect of delaying the fermentation of the salted Chinese cabbage, which may have the effect of delaying the fermentation of kimchi. This enhancement method of the direct refrigerator was effective for the supercooled storage and would be promising for commercial use.

For the vessel export of strawberries, modified atmosphere package (MAP) using polyamide (PA) film and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) film was investigated to extend the shelf life of strawberries. Because the temperature and relative humidity changes of the MAP were lower than the changes of the control, the weight loss of the MAP were lower than that of the control. The low oxygen level and high carbon dioxide level were effective to decrease the fungal decay rate and to increase the hardness of strawberries. The Hunter’s color differences before and after storage showed no distinct difference between the MAP and the control. The lightness had a tendency to decrease while the redness increased. There were no significant changes of the soluble solids during the storage. The shelf life of strawberries could be extended to 16 days using the MAP considering the weight loss and the fungal decay rate. Thus, this MAP method using PA film and LLDPE film was effective to extend the shelf life of strawberries.

The main purposes of this study were to identify the factors affecting the supercooling property and to improve the possibility of supercooling storage of fruits and vegetables. Freezing point and nucleation temperature, moisture content, hardness, sugar content, and pH of nineteen fruits and vegetables were measured and Pearson correlation analysis was performed. Freezing point showed a statistically significant correlation with moisture content and sugar content (p<0.01), while ice nucleation temperature showed a correlation (p<0.05) only for sugar content. In particular, the water content and sugar content did not show any correlation with the freezing supercooling difference (FSD). From the correlation analysis between FSD, aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and mold, FSD showed a correlation (p<0.01) with aerobic bacteria. The experiments of the saline solutions inoculated with aerobic bacteria at different concentrations showed FSDs of about 2 for saline inoculated with 9.4 log CFU/mL and about 6 for saline inoculated lower than 5 log CFU/mL. Therefore, the aerobic bacteria concentration was determined to be a key factor affecting the supercooling storage of fruits and vegetables.

The variations of internal temperature, relative humidity (RH) and gas concentration in the pallet modified atmosphere package (MAP), using polyamide (PA) film and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) film, were investigated to extend the shelf life of tomatoes and paprikas. The temperature and RH inside the MAP were higher than that in the cold room, but there was no water condensation inside the MA film. The ethylene concentration in the MAP was maintained below 10 ppm. Oxygen level was stabilized at 2 to 5% during the storage and carbon dioxide level was also stabilized at 15 to 20%. The weight loss of the MAP tomatoes and paprikas was lower than that of the control because the RH in the pallet MAP was higher than that of the cold room. The fungal decay rate in the pallet MAP was also lower than that in the control due to a low oxygen concentration rate. There were no significant differences in the soluble solids, titratable acidity and Hunter’s color, but differences did exist in the hardness between the MAP and the control. So, this pallet MAP method was effective at extending the shelf life of tomatoes and paprikas considering the weight loss, fungal decay and hardness.

This study investigated the effects of 27.12 MHz radio frequency (RF) heating on heat transfer phenomena during the thawing process of frozen food. To determine the velocity of the RF thawing machine, samples were frozen at -80oC and subjected to different power treatments. The phase change times (-5 to 0oC) of frozen radish were 30, 26, 13, and 8 min; those of pork sirloin were 38, 25, 11, and 5 min; those of rump were 23, 17, 11, and 6 min; those of chicken breast were 42, 29, 13, and 9 min; and those of tuna were 25, 23, 10, and 5 min at 50, 100, 200, and 400 W, respectively. The heating limit temperatures of the radish, pork sirloin, rump, chicken breast, and tuna samples were 19.5, 9.2, 21.8, 8.8, and 16.8oC at 50 W; 23.5, 15.5, 27.3, 12.3, and 19oC at 100 W; 42, 26.9, 45.7, 22.1, and 39.4oC at 200 W; and 48.5, 54.7, 63.6, 57.3, and 44.9oC at 400 W. These results suggest that high-power RF improves thawing velocity and heating limit temperatures, and that an improvement on the operation of the RF thawing machine, according to food temperatures, is needed.

We have studied the technology to extend the storage period of ‘Seolhyang’ strawberries using modified atmosphere package (MAP) and ethyl pyruvate (EP) treatment for domestic distribution and export. The selected ripe strawberries harvested on December 28, 2016 at the Sancheong farmhouse were transported to the laboratory for 2 h and tested. After a day’s precooling at 4℃, the strawberries were divided into seven experimental groups. These groups were control, active MAP using low density polyethylene (LDPE), active MAP using polyamide (PA), active MAP using PA with EP treatment, passive MAP using LDPE, passive MAP using PA and passive MAP using PA with EP treatment. Quality analysis was carried out every 4 days during the storage period of 16 days. During the storage period of 16 days, MAP decreased from 3.5% to less than 1.1% in weight loss ratio compared with control, and decreased from 36% to less than 7% in fungal incidence. In the case of fungi in the EP treatment group, hyphae did not grow on the outside of the strawberry but grew to the inside. This tendency was similar to that in the low oxygen and high carbon dioxide environment of the MAP, the mycelium of the fungus did not grow outside of the strawberry. Fungi are the biggest problem in the distribution and export of strawberries, and these results suggest that MAP alone could inhibit mold and increase shelf life.

본 연구는 초음파를 이용한 해동기의 이용 가능성을 확인 하고자 수행되었다. 초음파 해동기는 132, 580 및 1,000 kHz의 공진주파수를 가지는 진동자를 이용하여 각 주파수로 제작하고 돈육을 일정한 크기로 정형하여 -80℃에서 냉동한 후 제작된 해동기를 이용하여 해동 성능을 분석하였다. 해동속도 비교에서는 초음파를 가하지 않은 접촉식해동의 경우 일반적으로 가정에서 행해지는 유수식 해동과 유사하게 20분가량이 소요되었으나, 초음파를 가했을 경우 주파수가 증가할수록 해동시간이 단축되어 1,000 kHz 에서는 6분 만에 해동이 완료되었다. 초음파를 이용한 해동 후 품질변화에 대한 분석에서는 재작된 초음파 해동기를 이용하였을 경우 유수해동에 비하여 드립으로 인한 해동감량이 0.5%가량 증가하였지만 pH, VBN 및 TBA 값과 같은 화학적 특성에서는 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 총 호기성 미생물에 또한 냉·해동에 따라 큰 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 초음파 해동기를 이용한 해동에서 냉동 전후의 육색을 비교 분석한 결과 명도는 변화는 거의 나타나지 않았지만 유수해동에 비하여 580 kHz를 이용한 초음파 해동에서 적색도 및 전체 색변화가 유의적의로 개선되었다. 해동육의 조직감 분석에서는 초음파 해동에서 경도가 감소하고 저작성이 증가하는 경향을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과를 종합해볼 때 접촉식 초음파 해동기는 해동시간 단축에 매우 효율적이나 해동육의 품질개선에는 뚜렷한 효과를 나타내지 못하여 경제성을 고려했을 때 성능 개선 및 연육 효과가 나타나는 580 kHz 동기의 개선 및 이용방안에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the quality change of “Tabor” tomatoes during long-term exportation periods. Hydroponics tomatoes were harvested at the turning stage, sorted, and box packed and then packaged in nylon film with a pallet. The packaged pallet was filled with a gas composition (5% O2, 1% CO2, and 94% N2) and stored at 10℃ for three weeks. The quality changes in weight loss, firmness, color, acidity, soluble solids, and microorganism growth were measured every 7 day interval. During the initial storage, the pallet-scale MAP showed slightly higher weight loss and firmness changes when compared to the conventional pallet. The total color change (ΔE) during ripening was delayed 10% under MAP storage. Acidity, soluble solids and phenolic compound contents decreased with increases in storage time regardless of the storage method; however, the quality changes of tomatoes were delayed in the MAP pallet. Furthermore, the decay rate of the pallet-scale MAP stored for 14 days was less than that of the conventional pallet, and the number of microorganisms was approximately 30% lower in the pallet-scale MAP, showing a positive effect on marketability. These results suggested that the pallet-scale MAP of tomatoes could ensure higher quality and longer storage periods than conventional pallet storage.

본 연구는 국내산 농산물의 안정적인 저온저장온도 결정 을 위하여 동결점을 분석하고 품질에 따른 저장온도 설정에 대한 기초자료를 제공하고 과냉각 한계점 측정을 통하여 과냉각 저장 가능성을 모색하고자 수행되었다. 동결점 및 과냉각 한계온도를 분석하기 위하여 국내산 마늘, 오이, 대파, 고추, 참외, 메론, 복숭아, 자두 등의 국내산 농산물을 자체 제작한 송풍식 냉동기를 이용하여 완만 냉각시키면서 농산물 내부에 삽입된 온도센서를 이용하여 열방출을 측정 하였다. 또한 일반 품질특성 인자들이 각 농산물 동결점에 미치는 영향을 분석하기 위하여 당도, 산도, 함수율 및 경도 를 측정하였다. 열방출 최고점을 기준으로 판단한 농산물 의(동결점/과냉각 한계점)은 마늘(-1.6/-7.8℃), 대파(-0.5/ -3.7℃), 오이(-0.5/3.3℃), 풋고추(-0.7/-4.9℃), 포도(-1.6/-5. 7℃), 참외(-1.6/-4.6℃), 메론(-1.3/-2.8℃), 복숭아(-0.8/-3. 3℃), 방울토마토(-0.3/-5.9℃), 자두(-1.1/-4.2℃), 무(-0.3/-0. 8℃), 단감(-1.7/-4.7℃), 사과(-1.5/-3.2℃), 고구마(-1.5/-3. 7℃), 감귤(-0.8/-4.7℃), 배(-1.5/-4.2℃), 딸기(-0.9/-3.4℃)이 었다. 이러한 동결점은 각 농산물의 이화학적 특성분석에 비추어 볼 때 당 성분에 따른 동결점 내림 경향과 일치하여 당도분석을 통한 저장온도 설정 가능성을 제시하였다.