This study investigated the effects of blanching conditions on the quality characteristics of burdock, lotus root, and garlic scape. The selected plants were blanched at varying temperatures (70-100oC) for 1-5 min, and moisture content, shear force, color, and total microbial count were analyzed. Burdock exhibited browning discoloration when it was blanched at a relatively low temperature (70-80oC). In addition, thermal tenderization of burdock was not evident in the blanching conditions adopted in this study. Blanching affected the tenderness and moisture content of lotus root without deteriorative discoloration. In particular, low temperature blanching (80oC) was favorable to blanching lotus root. Alternately, thermal tenderization of garlic scape was possible by blanching at 80- 100oC for 3-5 min, while discoloration of the blanched garlic scape dominated at high-temperature blanching (100oC). Consequently, the result indicated that low temperature for a long time (80oC and 3-5 min) provided a better blanching condition for lotus root and garlic scape than high temperature applied at a short time (100oC and 1-3 min).

This study examined the changes in antioxidant activity and contents of phenolic compounds inblanched, steamed, and autoclaved burdock root (BR). The total polyphenolic and flavonoids contents of raw and cooked BR were determined spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant activity of BR was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2- azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. The main phenolic compounds in BR were quantified by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). Both blanching and steaming treatments significantly increased the antioxidant activities of BR in all groups (5 min, 15 min, and 30 min), whereas in autoclaving treatment, the 30 min treatment only showed an increase in the antioxidant activities of BR. The 30 min blanched BR exhibited the strongest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and possessed the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid phenolic contents. The 15 min-steamed BR showed the highest ORAC value. The main phenolic compound of the 15 min-steamed BR was CGA (chlorogenic acid). These results suggest that heat cooking methods, such as blanching and steaming, improve the antioxidant activity of BR by increasing the concentration of phenolic compounds.