Strecker aldehydes have been negatively associated to flavor of heat sterilized plant-based foods. The present study demonstrated the importance of processing conditions (temperature, pressure and time) as a strong means for the control of Strecker aldehyde formation in vegetables purees. A kinetic study was set up (at isothermal and isothermal-isobaric conditions) to quantify the effects of single process parameters on the changes of 3-methylbutanal (3-MB) in carrot puree as a case study. The increase in 3-MB concentrations was best described by an empirical, logistic model. During the isothermal treatment at atmospheric pressure, the maximum reaction rate constant of 3-MB formation was increased as a function of processing temperature. However, the formation rate was clearly slower at high pressure (600 MPa) compared to the process at 0.1 MPa. Hence, the reduced formation of Strecker aldehydes under high pressure could open a new possibility for process control and optimization of the formation of these compounds.

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