Quality changes and shelf life of salted duck egg white meringue stored in alternative packages at two temperatures

Salted duck egg white meringues stored in alternative packages (paper control, metalized low-density polyethylene (M-LDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and at two alternative storage temperatures (30°C and 40°C) were tested for changes in quality over a period of 120 days. Every 15 days, the meringues were tested for physicochemical and microbial qualities. Package type, storage temperature, and storage time all influenced the overall meringue quality. This study revealed that meringues kept at 40°C experienced more loss of quality than those kept at 30°C. During storage, meringue’s lightness and yellowness diminished while redness increased, and the sample volume shrunk. The control samples were significantly more affected than the other cases. The sample’s weight, moisture, aw, and pH were highest in the control samples when stored at 40°C. Textural profiles such as hardness, chewiness, cohesiveness, fracturability, gumminess, and springiness decreased in all cases with stor-age time, whereas adhesiveness and resilience increased. The M-LDPE and PET packages maintained the sample texture. The radical scavenging abilities of the samples did not significantly differ by the alternatives tested, but a gradual increase was noted during prolonged storage. The control samples had significant levels of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella) and spoilage microorganisms (yeast and mold), reducing the shelf life to 90 days. In contrast, M-LDPE and PET packages maintained the sample qualities throughout the testing period of 120 days. It was found that M-LDPE and PET packages prolonged the shelf life of meringues when stored at 30°C, more so than at 40°C.