Strawberry jelly was stored at 20 (control), 30 (room) and 40 (accelerated) ºC in order to evaluate their shelf lives. The shelf-life evaluation was based on objective color readings of L a b Hunter color (Minolta Chroma Meter CR-400) and on subjective color methods, smell, flavor, and texture (Quantitative Descriptive Analysis) measurements. Objective and subjective analyses were carried out for 180 days at 30-day intervals under three different conditions. Experimental data show that the color degradation followed the model of a first order kinetic reaction. The Arrhenius model was applied to the reaction rates (k) at each temperature obtaining activation energy (Ea) of 5.66 kcal.mol-1 and a Q10 of 1.36. The jellies showed adequate quality with relation to acid ascorbic content in the occasion of the processing, but they had presented low vitamin C retention. On the 60th day, the vitamin C content reduced more than 98%, regardless of the storage condition. The jellies stored at 40 ºC proved more sensitive to the alterations in the color, and such temperature affected negatively the sensory attributes indicated by the browning and losses of smell, flavor, and texture. The results suggest that strawberry jellies must be stored under controlled conditions of temperature (20 to 30 ºC).
color degradation kinetics; strawberry jelly; shelf-life
