Plastic packaging of food salad ensures unchanged taste HPP full liquid sterilization
In modern fast-paced life, food salad, as a healthy and convenient dining option, has been favored by more and more consumers. However, how to keep the salad fresh while ensuring its safety and extending its shelf life has always been an important challenge facing the food industry. In recent years, the rise of HPP (high pressure sterilization) technology, especially the application of full liquid sterilization methods, has provided new solutions for the packaging and sterilization of food salad. This article will focus on the theme of "Plastic packaging of food salad ensures unchanged taste HPP full liquid sterilization", and conduct an in-depth discussion from three aspects: the taste preservation of food salad, the principles and advantages of HPP full liquid sterilization technology, and the application and guarantee of plastic packaging in HPP sterilization.
1. Preservation of the taste of food salad: the key role of plastic packaging
The taste of food salad is one of the key factors that attract consumers. Fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, cheese and other ingredients, after careful matching and seasoning, constitute a salad with rich taste and balanced nutrition. However, the ingredients in the salad are easily affected by factors such as oxygen, microorganisms and temperature, resulting in a decrease in taste and nutritional value. Therefore, choosing the right packaging material is crucial to maintaining the taste of the salad.
Oxygen barrier properties: Plastic packaging materials, especially those with high oxygen barrier properties, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer), etc., can effectively isolate oxygen and slow down the oxidation process of ingredients in the salad, thereby maintaining its freshness and taste.
Moisturizing properties: Vegetables, fruits and other ingredients in salads contain high moisture content, and maintaining an appropriate moisture content is essential to maintaining their taste. By adjusting the air permeability, plastic packaging can maintain the moisture balance of the salad to a certain extent and prevent excessive water loss from causing a deterioration in taste.
Anti-microbial contamination: Plastic packaging materials are specially treated, such as adding antibacterial agents or using multi-layer co-extrusion technology, which can effectively inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms and reduce the risk of contamination of salads during storage and transportation.
2. The principle and advantages of HPP full liquid sterilization technology
HPP full liquid sterilization technology is an innovative food preservation and sterilization method. Its principle is to use water under high pressure (usually 400-600MPa) as a transmission medium, place the food in a high pressure environment, and achieve the purpose of sterilization by changing the cell structure and biochemical reaction of microorganisms. Compared with traditional heat sterilization methods, HPP full liquid sterilization has significant advantages.
Maintain the original flavor and nutrition of food: HPP full liquid sterilization is carried out at low temperature, avoiding the loss of food nutrients and changes in taste that may be caused by high temperature treatment. This allows vegetables, fruits and other ingredients in salads to maintain their original color, flavor and nutritional value.
Efficient sterilization: HPP full liquid sterilization technology can complete the sterilization process in a short time (usually within a few minutes), and the sterilization effect is thorough. It can effectively kill a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, molds and yeasts to ensure the safety of salads.
Extend the shelf life: The shelf life of salads treated with HPP full liquid sterilization can be significantly extended due to the effective inhibition of microorganisms, which reduces food waste and improves economic benefits.
No chemical additives: HPP full liquid sterilization is a physical sterilization method that does not require the addition of any chemical preservatives or antioxidants, which meets the modern consumer's pursuit of healthy and natural food.
3. Application and guarantee of plastic packaging in HPP sterilization
In the HPP full liquid sterilization process, the selection and design of plastic packaging materials are crucial to ensure the safety of salads and maintain their taste.
High pressure resistance: During the HPP full liquid sterilization process, food is placed in a high pressure environment. Therefore, plastic packaging materials must have good high pressure resistance to prevent rupture or deformation during the sterilization process. This requires that the mechanical properties and structural stability of the packaging materials should be fully considered during the design and production process.
Sealing: In order to ensure the safety and hygiene of salads during the sterilization process, plastic packaging must have good sealing performance. This can prevent the intrusion and loss of microorganisms and moisture during the sterilization process, thereby maintaining the freshness and taste of the salad.
Air permeability adjustment: Although plastic packaging needs to have good sealing, excessive sealing may also cause the moisture and gas inside the salad to be out of balance. Therefore, when designing and selecting packaging materials, its air permeability needs to be fully considered to ensure that the salad maintains a proper moisture and gas balance during storage and transportation.
Environmental protection and sustainability: As consumers pay more and more attention to environmental protection and sustainable development, it has become a trend to choose recyclable, degradable or bio-based plastic packaging materials. These materials not only meet environmental protection requirements, but also reduce production costs and environmental pollution.
In practical applications, many salad producers have successfully combined HPP full liquid sterilization technology with plastic packaging to produce safe and delicious salad products. These products not only maintain the original taste and nutritional value of the salad, but also significantly extend the shelf life, meeting consumers' demand for high-quality and healthy food.
In summary, while ensuring the taste remains unchanged, the plastic packaging of food salad achieves a dual improvement in food safety and shelf life through the application of HPP full liquid sterilization technology. With the continuous advancement of technology and the in-depth expansion of the market, the combination of plastic packaging and HPP full liquid sterilization will play a more important role in the future food industry.