Hurdle approach for enhancing storage life of minimally processed apple slices using active modified atmosphere packaging

The main obstacle to the commercial marketing of minimally processed apples is related to their greater susceptibility to tissue softening, enzymatic browning, and microbiological development. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the influence of modified atmosphere packaging on enzymatic browning and quality deterioration in fresh-cut 'Royal Delicious' apples. Apple wedges were stored for up to 42 days at 5 ± 2 °C in modified atmosphere packaging with 1.5–5% O₂ and 2.5–7.5% CO₂. Flesh colour, head space gas composition, titratable acidity, soluble solids content, ascorbic acid content and overall sensory quality of apple slices were evaluated during storage. At the end of the storage period, the titratable acidity of apple wedges packed under modified atmospheres ranged from 0.56% to 0.18% for all treatments. Apple wedges packaged under 5% O₂ and 5% CO₂ had the highest titratable acidity (0.49%) by the end of storage. After 42 days of storage, total soluble solids content in apple wedges was highest for wedges packaged under 1.5% O₂ and 7.5% CO₂ (15.9%) and lowest in control (9.7%). Enzymatic browning was suppressed and overall quality of the apple wedges was retained under modified atmospheres. Overall, the modified atmosphere packaging proved to be the most effective treatment to preserve the nutritional and sensory attributes of apple wedges for 42 days of storage.