Comparing the Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure and Ultrahigh Temperature on Quality and Shelf Life of Cloudy Ginger Juice

Abstract

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 500 MPa for 10 min and ultrahigh temperature (UHT) at 110 °C for 8.6 s on the quality of cloudy ginger juice (CGJ) were investigated during storage for 91 days at 4 and 25 °C. The quality aspects studied were microbial stability and selected properties, including pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), total phenols, gingerols, antioxidant capacity, color, and aroma composition. The results showed that HHP treatment led to a 3.0 log cycle reduction of microbial load but did not influence pH, TSS, TA, antioxidant capacity, and color (day 0). Total phenol content increased by 5.31 % after HHP treatment but decreased significantly by 14.74 % after UHT treatment (day 0). Gingerols increased by 14.43 and 14.18 % after HHP and UHT treatments (day 0), respectively. Monoterpenoids, which are the main volatile aroma compounds, did not change significantly after HHP treatment but decreased significantly by 2.27 % after UHT treatment (day 0). During storage, the decreases in total phenols, gingerols, and antioxidant capacity in the UHT-treated GCJ were more noticeable than those in the HHP-treated GCJ. Kinetic data of changes in total phenols, gingerols, and antioxidant capacity fitted into the combined model well. The changes in antioxidant capacity were positively and significantly correlated to total phenols and gingerols. Color darkened and aroma faded in both HHP-treated and UHT-treated CGJs during storage. The quality changes in samples stored at 25 °C were also more noticeable than those stored at 4 °C.