Effect of relative humidity, storage days, and packaging on pecan kernel texture: Analyses and modeling. Issue 1 (3rd October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Prabhakar, Himanshu; Kerr, William L.; Bock, Clive H.; Kong, Fanbin
• Is Part Of: Journal of texture studies. Volume 54:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2022-10-03
• Subjects: nut -- physical -- quality -- shell -- TPA -- US; Food texture -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664.02
• DOI: 10.1111/jtxs.12723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4901

Abstract

Abstract: The studies expounding on the effects of storage conditions on texture changes are limited. The researchers have been proposing methods to measure pecan texture instrumentally. But current protocols and/or attributes fail to address huge variability during experimentation. Additionally, there are no predictive models to estimate changes in pecan texture during storage. This study addresses all the above concerns and investigates the effects of different relative humidity (RH, 30–90%) and packaging material (Polyethylene‐Nylon [PEN], polypropylene [PP], low density polyethylene [LDPE], and metallic laminates [ML]) on pecan texture, introducing a rift ratio (F/H or fracturability to hardness ratio) to address variability in the data and predictive model to estimate changes in the textural attribute of pecans during storage. The textural analysis was conducted on pecan cores and intact pecans to measure the area under curve, fracturability, hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness, springiness, and rift ratio. It was observed that values for the rift ratio obtained using the intact pecan method had high R 2 (0.72) as compared to the rest of the textural attributes. A three‐parameter logistic model was employed to predict pecan texture during storage. The pecans stored at 75, 80, and 90% reached the rift ratio (F/H) of 0.5 at approx. 115, 3, and 0.15 days (~ 4 hr), respectively. Similarly, pecans stored in LDPE, PP, and PEN packs at 80% reached rift ratio (F/H) of 0.5 at approx. 26, 57, and 78 days, respectively. The presence of any kind of package delayed fracturability loss by at least eight folds at 80% RH. The pecans stored in ML did not experience a significant change in textural attributes Abstract : The paper investigated the changes in texture of pecans stored at wide range of relative humidity (30–90%) and packaging materials (LDPE, PP, PEN, metallic laminates [ML]). This work also discusses a robust approach to instrumentally determine pecan texture by introducing rift (Fracturability to Hardness) ratio, which is capable of addressing variability issues in pecan texture measurements. Furthermore, three‐parameter logistic (3PL) model and predictive equations were developed which can predict the extent of changes in pecan texture during storage.