Nested modified-atmosphere packages maintain quality of trimmed sweet corn during cold storage and the shelf life period

Abstract

Retail packages of sweet corn (film-wrapped trays containing a pair of trimmed cobs) were stored at 2°C within additional plastic liners. The modified atmosphere (MA), generated in these nested packages by corn respiration, complied with the recommended range of 5‐10 kPa CO2 and inhibited mold growth. Opening the liner after transfer to non-refrigerated conditions compensated for the respiration rise caused by elevated temperature, maintained the desirable MA range and prevented fermentation and off-flavor development. The produce kept for 2 weeks at 2°C within nested packages, and for 4 additional days at 20°C, and combined relatively low microbial spoilage with acceptable organoleptic quality, provided the liners were open at 20°C. The method was successfully tested during a trial shipment of sweet corn from Israel to Europe. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.