Effect of Packaging and Storage on Quality Characteristics of Dried Wild Pomegranate Arils (Anardana) Prepared in Solar Tunnel Drier

Abstract

Wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits were procured from Karsog area of Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, India (1265 m above mean sea level). The arils extracted from the fruits were dehydrated in a solar tunnel (30-45°C) drier to prepare value added product Anardana. The developed product was packed in three different packaging materials viz. gunny bags, aluminium laminated pouches (ALP) and aluminium laminated pouches with vacuum (ALPV) and stored under ambient and refrigerated temperature for a period of 12 months so as to evaluate overall effect of storage period, storage condition and packaging material. After 12 months of storage period, higher retention of various quality characteristics like TSS, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugars, anthocyanins content, sensory characteristic scores with less increase in moisture content, NEB (non-enzymatic browning),HMF (hydroxymethyl furfural) and furfural content was observed in Anardana packed in ALPV followed by ALP and gunny bags. The changes in the quality characteristics of the Anardana were slower in refrigerated storage conditions as compared to ambient conditions.

Studies on Storage Quality Evaluation of Dried Wild Pomegranate Arils (Anardana) Prepared in Mechanical Cabinet Drier

“…The other reason for the decrease in total fibres content of anardana might be due to the absorption of moisture from the surroundings which led to the decrease in the total fibres content on weight basis. Above results for starch and total fibres are in conformity with the earlier findings of Thakur et al [23] in solar tunnel dried wild pomegranate arils.…”

“…The retention of higher SO 2 in ALP might be due to minute permeable nature of the ALP which hindered the exchange of gases and created a better barrier for the removal of SO 2 . A similar trend of decrease in residual SO 2 of anardana during storage has also been observed earlier in solar tunnel dried wild pomegranate arils[23].…”