Physicochemical Characteristics of Fresh-cut Tropical Fruit during Storage

Abstract

Fresh-cut tropical fruit is increasingly popular currently, stimulated by public awareness of health and practical lifestyle-fresh-cut fruit presenting consumers' convenience, safety, and quality. Tropical fruit contains functional components that are quite varied and good for health. Mangosteen, Mango, and Rambutan are three exotic tropical fruits that have high economic value and are liked by foreign people. They have a nonedible relatively high and potentially processed into fresh-cut fruit—the process of stripping cutting and slicer, causing wounds that spur damage. During storage, fresh-cut fruits undergo physical-chemical changes—increased respiration rate, ethylene production, oxidation, and browning processes that can shorten shelf life. The damage will be faster if stored at an improper temperature. Fresh-cut fruit is preferably stored at cold temperatures, to extend the shelf life. The research aims to determine the physicochemical characteristics of fresh-cut tropical fruits during cold storage. The research uses a pattern of random group three replicate. The first factor is fruit type (Mango, Mangosteen, Rambutan); the second factor is storage time in cold temperatures (0, 5, 10 days). The variables observed in the study included physical characteristics color (L*a*b*), weight, and texture. Observations of chemical characteristics include moisture content, pH, total acids, vitamin C levels, and total dissolved solids. Fresh-cut tropical fruit has different physicochemical characteristics and experiences deterioration during cold temperatures. The characteristics of tropical fruit have changed significantly on day 5. Mango shows more significant changes than others, seen from variable moisture content, vitamin C, color, and texture. Meanwhile, based on the physicochemical analysis, rigidity of fresh-cut Mango higher than Mangosteen and Rambutan.