Shelf-life of clarified juices from the peach varieties eldorado and jubileu

Summary

The consumption of fruits and their derivatives has increased considerably in recent years, causing a constant growth in the demand for juices and nectars, creating new market niches for these products, as also for clarified juices. The peach (Prunus persica (L.) Bastch) is an important source of nutrients, although highly perishable, making its availability in other products, such as clarified juice, highly desirable. The objective of this study was to verify the physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory stabilities of clarified peach juices, allowing for the construction of a mathematical model for the behavior of these juices during storage. Fully mature peaches from the varieties Eldorado and Jubilee were selected. The fruits were processed in the Special Food Technology Unit of Cavg - IFSul (Pelotas – RS – Brazil), obtaining juices by pulping and immediately clarifying and pasteurizing them, followed by storage in 340 mL bottles. The juices were stored in an environment controlled at 20 °C, and analyzed after 0, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days. The following parameters were determined: pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS / TA ratio, phenolic content, ascorbic acid content and a sensory analysis, to determine whether there were any significant changes during storage. The clarified juices of the Eldorado and Jubilee varieties, remained stable and in appropriate conditions for consumption after 150 days of storage at 20 °C, and it was possible to construct mathematical models to predict the behavior of the physical and chemical parameters.

Key words:
Prunus persica; Enzymatic clarification; Stability