The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of pre-treatments in order to reduce the browning on Fuji and Gala apple varieties (Malus domestica Borkh), after a freezing period of 12 days. Four pre-treatments were applied: dip in boiling water for two minutes (DBW), dip in sodium bisulphite 0,25% for two minutes (DSB), dip in sucrose solution 35% for two minutes (DSS) and one without pre-treatment (WPT) to compare with the others. The color was evaluated through colorimetric assays, applying the universal scale L*, a* e b* at the treated samples before and after freezing. It was used the quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), with structured scale of 9 points, to the sensorial evaluation of the color attribute. The best pre-treatment, in the browning prevention, was the DBW and the worst was the WPT, where it was observed a high oxidation of phenolic compounds. The pre-treatment DSB showed a higher acceptance at the DQA test on Fuji and Gala apple varieties, however it was not obtained a relation between colorimetric physical analysis and the affective sensorial analysis.
Apple; browning; pre-treatment; freezing; color; Malus domestica
