Analysis of temperature distribution in potato tissue during blanching and its effect on the absolute residual pectin methylesterase activity

Gerardo González-Martínez*, Lília Ahrné, Vassilis Gekas, Ingegerd Sjöholm

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftReviewForskningpeer review

30 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Dynamic changes in absolute residual PME activity in potato tubers undergoing blanching were analysed with regard to the temperature distribution in the tissue after the treatment. The finite-element technique was used to predict the temperature distribution within the tissue during blanching. The temperature-related behaviour of the enzyme indicated that blanching between 60 and 70 °C induced thermal activation of PME in blanched potatoes. The temperature distribution in the tissue during blanching showed that activation takes place as soon as the tissue reaches an average temperature above 50 °C. However, the temperature dependence of the absolute residual PME activity in the tissue, when blanching at temperatures between 50 and 70 °C, did not follow Arrehenius' law. The degree of PME activity in the blanched tissue was found to depend on the "effective exposure time" to the temperature at which the activation/deactivation of the enzyme takes places. Thermal activation of PME in potato tissue occurred during the first two minutes of blanching. Longer heating times induced rapid deactivation of the enzyme in the tissue.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Food Engineering
Vol/bind65
Udgave nummer3
Sider (fra-til)433-441
Antal sider9
ISSN0260-8774
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2004
Udgivet eksterntJa

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