Pectic substance degradation and texture of carrots as affected by pressurization

Heated pectin was degraded by transelimination (beta-elimination) above pH 5 and by hydrolysis below pH 2, but pressurized pectin did not degrade. Thus cooked carrots decreased in firmness, bur pressurized carrots did not. Pressurizing above 200 MPa slightly increased rupture strain. Galacturonic acid levels decreased in carrels cooked for 30 min. Total pectin in pressurized carrots was the same as in cooked for 3 min. However, with increased pressure, the amount of high methoxyl pectin in carrots decreased while low methoxyl pectin increased. Thus, the effects of pressurization on pectin degradation (transelimination) and texture of carrots were different from those of heating.