Using pullulan-based edible coatings to extend shelf-life of fresh-cut 'Fuji' apples

Pullulan is a thickener that can form semipermeable films, and glutathione is an effective reducing agent, while chitooligosaccharide has antibacterial activity. In this study, effect of pullulan-based coatings in combination with antibrowning and antibacterial agents (1% pullulan; 0.8% glutathione +1% chitooligosaccharides; and 0.8% glutathione +1% chitooligosaccharides +1% pullulan) on apple slices was investigated during hypothermia storage. Pullulan-coating treatments effectively retarded enzymatic browning, maintained firmness, decreased weight loss, and inhibited microbial growth and respiration rate of apple slices during hypothermia storage compared with that of the control (p < 0.05). Results indicate that using pullulan-based coatings in combination with glutathione and chitooligosaccharides is a promising way to extend the shelf-life of apple slices. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.