Browsing by Author "Cruz, Rui M.S."
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- Effect of cold chain temperature abuses on the quality of frozen watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.)Publication . Cruz, Rui M.S.; Vieira, Margarida C.; Silva, Cristina L.M.The objective of this work was to study the effect of temperature abuses on the colour and vitamin C content of a new frozen vegetable, watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.). The vitamin C content, expressed as ascorbic (AA) and dehydroascorbic (DHAA) acids, and colour, expressed in the Hunter Lab parameters, were evaluated along a plan of temperature abuses, based on a real situation for a four month frozen storage period. A comparison between the hue angle and AA experimental data and prediction models, using kinetic parameters determined under isothermal conditions, was also run. The colour showed some variation, namely on the parameters L, a, TCD (Total Colour Difference) and hue angle. Although, during the temperature abuses, some fluctuation was observed, no vitamin C degradation or major colour changes occurred. A zero-order and a first-order prediction models fitted well the experimental data for the hue angle and AA behaviour with temperature abuses, respectively. In general, the frozen watercress colour and vitamin C content were not impaired by the imposed temperature abuses. This work will help to predict and understand the sensory and nutritional quality changes of frozen watercress that might occur during frozen storage and distribution in the cold chain under the used conditions.
- Enterococcus faecalis and pseudomonas aeruginosa behaviour in frozen watercress (Nasturtium Officinale) submitted to temperature abusesPublication . Oliveira, Sílvia R.; Cruz, Rui M.S.; Vieira, Margarida C.; Silva, Cristina L.M.; Gaspar, Maria N.Watercress is an herb traditionally consumed fresh. If frozen, would be readily available to consumers. However, pathogenics resistant to frozen storage are a safety concern in this new product. In this study watercress was artificially contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. Their survival was evaluated after blanching, frozen storage and temperature fluctuations of the frozen product. The blanching caused a reduction of about 2 log cfu per gram of product of total viable count (TVC) and about 1.7 and 1.3 log cfu per gram of product of P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis, respectively. P. aeruginosa seemed to be more sensitive to temperature abuses than E. faecalis. After 3 months, TVC was still observed with a reduction of about 3 log cfu per gram of product. At the end of the study, exposure to freeze–thaw cycles resulted in death or injury of the microorganisms. These findings on the behaviour of two microorganisms of concern in frozen watercress will help improving the safety and cold chain settings for this product.
- Modelling kinetics of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) colour changes due to heat and thermosonication treatmentsPublication . Cruz, Rui M.S.; Vieira, Margarida C.; Silva, Cristina L.M.Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) colour changes due to blanching by heat and a combined treatment of heat/ultrasound (thermosonication) were studied in the temperature range of 82.5 to 92.5 °C. The application of thermosonication was intended to enable less severe blanching treatments and, therefore, improve the quality of the blanched product. The thermosonication blanching processes promoted changes of the green colour (an parameter) at a higher rate (Pb0.05), when compared with the heat blanching processes. No significant differences (PN0.05) were detected between heat and thermosonication blanching processes in terms of the colour parameters Ln, bn and TCD changes. In both treatments, a fractional first order model fitted well the experimental data for Ln, an and bn (RH 2 =0.99; RTs 2 =0.99) and TCD (RH 2 =0.92; RTs 2 =0.96) colour parameters. The chlorophylls content showed no significant differences (PN0.05) between thermally treated and thermosonicated watercress samples. The present findings will help to evaluate the effectiveness of thermosonication as a novel process to replace the classical heat treatment.
- The response of watercress (nasturtium officinale) to vacuum impregnation: Effect of an antifreeze protein type IPublication . Cruz, Rui M.S.; Vieira, Margarida C.; Silva, Cristina L.M.The setting up of methodologies that reduce the size of ice crystals and reduce or inhibit the recrystallisation phenomena could have an extraordinary significance in the final quality of frozen products and consequently bring out new market opportunities. In this work, the effect of an antifreeze protein type I (AFP-I), by vacuum impregnation (VI), on frozen watercress was studied. The VI pressure, samples’ weight, Hunter Lab colour, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a wilting test were analysed in this work. The water intake of watercress samples augmented with vacuum pressure increase. The results also showed that, independently from the vacuum pressure used, the Lab colour parameters between raw and impregnated samples were maintained, showing no significant differences (P > 0.05). A VI of 58 kPa, during 5 min, allowed impregnating the AFP-I solution (0.01 mg ml-1) into the watercress samples. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the AFP-I impregnated frozen samples with better cell wall definition and rounded cell shape with smaller ice crystals compared with the control samples. The wilting test results corroborated that AFP-I is a valuable additive, since the leaves impregnated with AFP-I showed higher turgidity compared to the control samples. The present findings will help to better understand the effect of AFP-I, articularly, on frozen watercress microstructure and its importance as valuable food additive in frozen foods and mainly in leafy vegetables.