Abstract

ESPARZA-RIVERA, Juan Ramón et al. Acceptability of fresh cut leaf lettuce treated with ascorbic acid applied by hydrocooling. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.5, pp.767-778. ISSN 2007-0934.

We assessed the effect of ascorbic acid, applied by two hydrocooling methods, on the overall acceptability, taste and appearance of cut green leaf lettuce, and the relationship between the taste and appearance of processed leaf lettuce regarding the overall acceptability of this product. Leaf lettuce was hydrocooled with a solution of 1% ascorbic acid by immersion and spraying, or by immersion in water. Non-hydrocooled lettuce was used as control. The treatment solutions were applied at 5 °C for 2 min, and the lettuce was then packed in polyethylene bags, impervious to moisture, stored at 5 °C for 14 days, and evaluated after 1, 7 and 14 days of storage. The overall acceptability of processed leaf lettuce (cut and packed) was highly correlated with its taste (R²= 0.85), but not with its appearance (R²= 0.39). All treatments maintained the overall acceptability values and taste of the lettuce during the 14 days of storage (p> 0.05). However, the lettuce that was hydrocooled by spraying with ascorbic acid, and the non-hydrocooled lettuce (control) were the only treatments that maintained appearance during the study. Further experimentation with the application of ascorbic acid by hydrocooling is required to ensure its usefulness for maintaining the sensory quality of processed leaf lettuce during storage.

Keywords : cooling; sensory evaluation; vegetables; vitamin C.