Associação de atmosfera modificada e antioxidantes reduz o escurecimento de batatas 'Ágata' minimamente processadas

Enzymatic browning of minimally processed potatoes reduces the final price of the product. The present work was carried out aiming to evaluate chemical and physical characteristics in fresh-cut 'Agata' potatoes stored under modified atmospheres and treated with antioxidants. Potatoes 'Agata' were minimally processed as baby potatoes and treated with antioxidants solutions as follows: citric acid (2%), eritrorbic acid (3%), combination of citric acid (2%) and eritrorbic acid (3%), and stored under passive modified atmosphere. A fourth treatment consisting of the combination of citric acid (3%) and eritrorbic acid (5%), in association with active modified atmosphere (10% CO2, 2% O2, 88% N2) was set up. Baby potatoes treated with citric acid (3%) and eritrorbic acid (5%), in association with active modified atmosphere, had a browning index that was 24% lower than the average of the other 3 treatments at the end of the experiment. Similarly, polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase activity were 92 and 73% lower, respectively, in the treatment where antioxidants and active modified atmosphere were combined than the average of the other three treatments at the ninth day of storage. There was an increase in total vitamin C content, mainly in treatments where eritrorbic acid was applied. Combination of antioxidants and active modified atmosphere showed the best maintenance of quality attributes for fresh-cut potatoes.