Optimization of Postharvest Edible Coating for Shelf Life Extension and Quality Maintenance of Fresh Cut Carrots
Navneet Kaur and Pooja Nikhanj
2025/02/11
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14851660
ABSTRACT
Fresh cut carrots disinfected with 100ppm sodium hypochlorite solution and coated with different coatings revealed that chitosan coating exerts higher antimicrobial efficacy and inhibits microbial growth. Characterization of chitosan coating revealed presence of functional groups responsible for antimicrobial activity and coating have low water vapour and O2/CO2 transmission rate with non-Newtonian flow behaviour. Standardisation of coating conditions viz. concentration and dipping time was performed using Response Surface Methodology. Results revealed that fresh cut carrots dipped in 1.0% (w/v) chitosan coating for 3 minutes exhibited lowest microbial count and maintained physicochemical properties. Validation at 5.0 kg scale showed microbial counts of coated carrot pieces were within acceptable limits (4.72 log cfu/g total plate count, 2.90 log cfu/g yeasts and moulds, and 2.95 log cfu/g total coliforms) even at 15th day, while uncoated carrots exceeded the acceptable microbial limits after6th day of refrigeration storage. Physicochemical attributes were highly maintained and bioactive compounds including phenolics, ascorbic acid, carotenoids showed low dissipation and were highly preserved with low PPO and POD activities, thus increasing shelf life of produce. Sensory attributes showed high acceptability of chitosan coated fresh cut carrots with overall acceptability score of 7.0 on 15th day of storage.
AUTHOR AFFILIATIONS
Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India
CITATION
Kaur N and Nikhanj P (2025) Optimization of Postharvest Edible Coating for Shelf Life Extension and Quality Maintenance of Fresh Cut Carrots. Environmental Science Archives 4(1): 96-104.
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