Determination of storage stability of covered with chitosan and vacuum packaged fresh-cut pumpkin slices

In this study; fresh cut pumpkin slices stored at 4 and 10 °C, coated/uncoated and with vacuum/without vacuum. The effect of chitosan coating, vacuum treatment and storage temperature on shelf life was investigated. pH, color, water soluble dry matter (brix), microbiological analysis and β-carotene content analysis of samples, taken every 3 days, were performed during storage. The texture analyses were occurred in the samples on the first and last days of the storage period. At the end of storage, except for a few samples no statistically significant difference was observed in pH, brix and color values. The variations of the visual color values and amount of β-carotene content were found to be suitable for zero reaction kinetics. It is thought that increased β-carotene during storage due to water loss and maturity of fruit. Microbological analysis were carried out by determination of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria and total yeast-mold. Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria results showed that only coated-vacuumed sample stored at 10 °C and all samples which coated stored at 4 °C were found consumable. At the end of the storage; it was observed that yeast-mold formation was higher in all uncoated and non-vacuumed samples compared to coated-vacuumed samples. According to the results of the texture analysis, it was observed that the textural properties of the vacuumed, coated and stored at 4 °C samples were preserved compared to the uncoated, non vacuumed samples stored at 10 °C samples at the end of the storage.