PARTIAL DRYING OF CUT PEARS TO IMPROVE FREEZE/THAW TEXTURE

Bartlett pear quarters concentrated to 50% weight loss by immersion in a 60-degrees Brix, 60-degrees-C, sucrose solution maintained good color and texture upon freezing and thawing. In contrast the untreated control pear quarters darkened and became very soft. Less than 50% weight loss by osmotic concentration was not as effective in preventing loss of texture and color qualities. Hot-air drying, in combination with osmotic drying or alone, was more rapid, but did not keep the product from darkening or from becoming soft on freezing and thawing. After hot-air drying the pear core area turned pink. This did not occur after osmotic dehydration. The water activity decreased from 0.97 to 0.93 in this range of concentration, and the rate of decrease closely parelleled the reduction in moisture.