Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Strawberry Preservation

Abstract

The effect of modified atmosphere packaging for strawberry was discussed in this study. The best gas condition was explored to extend the shelf life of strawberry in refrigerated temperature. The 20μm PE film was used to build modified atmosphere packaging. The optimum gas condition for strawberrys modified atmosphere packaging was selected while concerned with the respiration rate, firmness, rot grade, vitamin C content, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, sensory evaluation and other quality indicators respectively. The results suggest that: In 60% O2 + 1.5% CO2 gas condition, it could be kept low rot grade, maintained the firmness, vitamin C content, total soluble solids, titratable acidity content, and sensory evaluation was not falling heavily. As the season in which strawberries were abundant was of high temperature, the effect of preservation was more apparent in 5±1°C. Modified atmosphere packaging discussed above could extend the strawberrys shelf life to 22 days.