Effect of storage conditions, packaging material and metabisulphite treatment on the color of dehydrated green bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

Green bell pepper dices were dipped in two metabisulphite solutions, 2400 and 3600 mg.kg(-1), respectively, and dehydrated. The dehydrated peppers were sealed in laminated pouches of different oxygen and moisture transmission rates, and stored in the dark at 0, 10 and 20C for 12 weeks. Color was evaluated by objective color measurement and a sensory panel during storage. The different packaging materials did not significantly influence color retention, while the SO2 treatments showed only limited differences in their effect, but storage temperatures significantly affected visual and objective color. The best correlation between visual color evaluation and the objective color measurements, was obtained for the a* (greenness) measurements. Panelists could discriminate between samples stored at 0 and 10C in contrast to a* measurements which did not differ significantly. Calculated hue angles exhibited the highest discriminatory ability of any of the objective color parameters.