Enzymatic browning is a serious quality limitation for fresh-cut potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) that has been successfully controlled by heat treatment in other commodities. The use of brief heat treatments with 55 °C water (HW) applied to ‘Russet Burbank’ tubers for 10, 20, 30, or 40 min before cutting was evaluated for potential implementation to control tissue browning. After heat treatment, tubers were held at 20 °C for 0 or 1 day before peeling and slicing. Control tubers were not previously immersed in hot water. All slices were placed in perforated plastic bags and stored at 5 °C for 6 days. Exposure to HW for 30 or 40 min caused severe heat injury. Browning developed in all treatments as indicated by color measurements and discoloration scores (index of extent of discolored area on the slice surface) during storage. Hot water treatment for 10 min best reduced browning, but only when treated tubers were stored intact for 1 day at 20 °C before cutting, as indicated by discoloration scores and changes in L*, a*, and Ho values, which were significantly different from either the control or the other HW treatments. Generally, the severe browning that developed in control slices during storage was associated with significant increases of 25% and 71% in phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, respectively. On the other hand, phenolic synthesis increased by only 6.25% to 13.2% in HW-treated slices during storage and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity was 24% to 31% lower compared with the activity before storage. Immersing potato tubers in 55 °C water for 10 to 20 min followed by storage at 20 °C for 1 day before processing reduced but did not prevent browning of peeled slices in terms of color changes and discoloration score. There was no significant correlation between browning and phenolic content or PPO activity.
Evaluation of Tendency to Blackspot Bruising and Enzymatic Discoloration of Potato Tubers