Browning inhibition and shelf life of packaged air‐dried chestnut kernels

Abstract

AbstractAir‐dried chestnut is a traditional snack in northern China, but no standardized quality control methods or commercial products are available. The browning of air‐dried chestnut kernels was inhibited by the combined use of 1.5% EDTA‐2Na, 1% pullulan, and 1% l‐cysteine. The air‐dried chestnut kernels were packed in three different bags (PB1, polyethylene (PE); PB2, polyamide resin (PA)/PE; and PB3, polyethylene terephthalate/PA/aluminum foil/PE), and stored at 4°C, 25°C, and 35°C, respectively. With increased storage time, the degree of browning, weight loss, and hardness increased, while the antioxidant activity and respiration rate decreased. The shelf life (SL) of packaged air‐dried chestnut kernels in different storage conditions was predicted by the Arrhenius equation, and the longest predicted shelf‐lives at 4°C, 25°C, and 35°C were 105.3 days (PB2), 19.5 days (PB3), and 10.8 days (PB1), respectively. The results provide guidance for inhibiting the browning of packaged air‐dried chestnut kernels and prolonging their SL during production and consumption.Practical applicationsAir‐dried chestnut has a crisp and sweet taste and low digestibility of starch, however, it has not been industrially processed until now. The optimal browning inhibitors and packaging materials of air‐dried chestnut kernel were explored, and the shelf life of packaged air‐dried chestnut kernel was predicted using Arrhenius equation. The results of this study will be beneficial to the commercial production of air‐dried chestnut kernel.