Composition and quality of clarified cantaloupe juice concentrate

Cantaloupe fruit was processed into clarified juice and juice concentrate. Greater yields were obtained from pressing fruit containing the find in contrast to pressing cantaloupe flesh with the rind removed. Juice pressed from cantaloupe flesh without rind was particularly difficult to filter, filtration being easier if the flesh had been frozen and thawed. Juice compositional measurements included degreesBrix, pH, titratable acidity (TA), formol values, ascorbic acid content, total carotenoids, browning indices, sugars, and nonvolatile acids. Ascorbic acid degraded rapidly during processing. Concentrates stored at 25C for 120 days showed extremely high rates of browning. Sensory evaluation demonstrated that rind aroma and flavor were removed during concentration. The high juice yields (ca. 80%), low TA (0.04 g/100 mL as citric acid) and sweet, fruity flavor suggest the potential use of clarified cantaloupe juice concentrate as an alternate sweetener and blended juice base.