Abstract
Korean Baechu cabbage(known as Chinese cabbage) brined in 0%, 5% and 10% (all w/v) salt solutions were packed using high-density polyethylene film (HDPE-film), low-density polyethylene film (LDPE-film), or Mirafresh film (MF-film, US patent No. 5972815), and stored at 4C for 4 weeks. Changes in pH and salinity, and microorganism counts (lactic acid bacteria and total bacteria), were investigated. There was no significant difference in the pH change in cabbage stored using various films when the vegetables were not salted. However, the pH was most stable in Baechu cabbage prepared using 10% salt solution. Cabbage treated with 0%, 5%, and 10% salt showed salinity values of 0.83%, 1.17% and 1.62%(all w/w), respectively, after 4 weeks of storage by LDPE-film. When cabbage was treated with the highest concentration of salt solution, the count of lactic acid bacteria increased but that of total bacteria decreased. The pH from pH 6.10 to pH 4.32, pH 5.68, and pH 5.92 in brined cabbage packed in HDPE-film, LDPE-film, and MF-film, respectively, after 4 weeks. When MF-film was used, the pH showed the greatest stability of all films tested, regardless of the concentration of salt solution employed in brining. The counts of lactic acid bacteria and total bacteria increased by all tested films during storage. Cabbage packed by MF-film showed the lowest increase in bacterial counts. In conclusion, MF-film was found to be the most effective packaging material for Baechu cabbage and brining in 10% salt solution was optimal to enhance the shelf life of the vegetable. LDPE-film was more effective than was HDPE-film for storage of brined cabbage.
0%, 5%, 10%의 염수로 절인배추를 각각 High density polyethylene film (HDPE-film), Low density polyethylene film (LDPE-film), Mirafresh film (MF-film)으로 포장한 후 4주간 $4^{\circ}C$에 저장하면서 pH, 염도, 총균수, 젖산균수, 탄력성을 측정해 품질특성의 변화를 평가하였다. pH의 경우 절이지 않은 배추(0% 염수)일 때는 필름별로 큰 차이를 보이지 않았고, 10% 염수로 절인 배추의 경우 LDPE-film, MF-film으로 포장했을 때 pH변화가 비교적 안정적이었으며, HDPE-film으로 포장한 경우는 상대적으로 pH가 크게 저하되었다. 염도는 절이지 않은 배추(0% 염수)일 때는 0.82%, 5% 염수로 절인배추일 때는 1.17%, 10% 염수로 절인배추일 때는 1.61% 정도로 4주간 비교적 일정하게 유지되었다. 미생물의 경우에는, 높은 농도의 염수로 절인배추일수록 젖산균은 증가하였지만 총균수는 감소하였다. 필름별로 관찰하였을 때는 MF-film필름으로 포장한 절임배추가 가장 작은 미생물 증가율을 보였다. 조직감 비교 결과 역시, MF-film으로 포장한 절임배추의 조직감이 가장 우수하였다. 본 연구 결과 절임농도는 10% 염도에서, 포장재질로는 MF-film이 절임배추 저장시 품질특성을 가장 안정적으로 유지시켜주는 것으로 관찰되었다. 한편 LDPE-film으로 포장한 절임배추의 경우 MF-film으로 포장한 경우 보다 품질변화에 있어서의 안정성은 떨어졌지만, 가격적인 면에서 볼 때 MF-film의 대체 film으로 LDPE-film을 사용하는 것도 고려 할 수 있겠다.
