JP3264829B2 - Cucumber package and its storage method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a package for maintaining the freshness of cucumber and a method for storing the package.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cucumbers are conventionally distributed in cardboard boxes from production areas to markets and retail stores. Regarding the freshness of cucumber during distribution, the cucumber is handkerchief-wrapped (the film is folded and taped) to prevent the wilting of the cucumber with a polyethylene film or a film containing an inorganic porous material such as Oyaishi for the purpose of adsorbing ethylene. It is about. Even with this packaging, there is no problem in the winter season (the product temperature during distribution is less than 15 ° C), but when the temperature starts to rise in the spring, even if the product is distributed using a refrigerated car, the product temperature does not drop sufficiently, When a retail store arrives, a slip-in occurs, causing complaints. Another problem with cucumber is that if it is stored at 10 ° C or less, “soak” does not occur, but low-temperature failure (roughness of the fruit surface, browning of the inside) occurs, so that “soak” is prevented only by temperature control. Is difficult. Cucumber filling is a phenomenon in which gas accumulates in cells after harvesting and the flesh looks white.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent wilting, slipping and yellowing of cucumber occurring at a high temperature, and to have a negative effect on fruits and vegetables such as ethanol and acetaldehyde by anaerobatic breathing. An object of the present invention is to provide a package for keeping freshness of cucumber and a method of preserving cucumber, which do not generate any substance.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problem of quality control of cucumber after harvesting is wilting and shuffling. To prevent wilting of cucumber, it is sufficient to keep the surrounding environment humid by wrapping it in a film etc. to suppress transpiration, and in addition to this, storing it at low temperature can prevent wilting more effectively . Sliding does not occur in winter, but begins as the temperature rises (around March-October). In general, it does not occur below 10 ° C, but it occurs slightly at temperatures between 12 and 13 ° C. At temperatures above 12 ° C, it occurs more rapidly and the subsequent development is remarkable. It is said that entry is early. In order to prevent this, it has been found that the cucumber should be kept at a low temperature of 10 ° C. or less after harvest or let the cucumber continue to absorb water so as not to be aptly breathed. However, when cucumber is stored at a low temperature such as 10 ° C. for a long time, a low-temperature failure occurs, and it is difficult to keep the cucumber absorbing water in actual distribution. According to the test of the present inventor, even if the storage temperature is 15 ° C. or less, it enters at the time of the 6th day (usually purchased by the consumer on the 4th to 6th days after harvest), but the storage temperature is particularly problematic as a product. This was the case at 15 ° C or higher (particularly at 20 ° C or higher).

The package of the present invention is made of a synthetic resin film having a gas permeability such that the package has an appropriate gas composition when the cucumber is hermetically packaged, or a laminate of a synthetic resin film and paper, a nonwoven fabric, or the like. The so-called MA (Mo (Mo) that suppresses cucumber respiration and maintains freshness by reducing the gas concentration in the bag to a low oxygen and high carbon dioxide state using carbon dioxide discharged by respiration of cucumber
This is a package characterized by using a bag / container having a (dified Atmosphere) effect. That is, the present invention relates to 15 to 3
Under the temperature condition of 5 ° C., the oxygen permeation amount per 3.6 g of cucumber is 3.6 to 35 cc / 24 h · atm, and the carbon dioxide permeation amount is 3.6 to
39.4 cc / 24 h · atm and water vapor permeability of 40 gr /
The cucumber is hermetically sealed and packaged with a plastic film having characteristics of 24h · m ² (JIS Z 0208, 40 ° C, 90% RH, 0.1mm) or less and micropores having an average pore diameter of 10 to 100µm. It is a package of cucumber, and when the cucumber is packaged under a temperature condition of 15 to 35 ° C., the oxygen concentration in the packaging material is 8.5 to 18.5%, and the carbon dioxide concentration is 1.5 to 15%.
% Of the cucumber package. Moreover, the oxygen permeation amount is 3.6 to 3 per 1 cucumber.
5cc / 24h · atm, CO2 permeation amount 3.6-39.4cc
/ 24h · atm and water vapor permeability is 40gr / 24h · m ² (J
IS Z 0208,40 ℃, 90% RH , 0.1mm) and the following characteristics, flat
The cucumber is sealed and packaged with a plastic film having micropores having an average pore diameter of 10 to 100 μm, and stored at 15 to 35 ° C., and the package is filled with 8.5 to 18.5% of oxygen and 1.5 to 15% of carbon dioxide. A cucumber preservation method characterized by being maintained.

[0006] If it is distributed and stored at a low temperature of about 10 ° C, a smaller amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide permeation than the package of the present invention is sufficient, but it is necessary to maintain freshness especially to prevent penetration and discoloration. It is only after the temperature has risen to 15 ° C or more. Considering the actual use conditions at this time, when transporting at room temperature, of course, it is necessary to store it in a refrigerator compartment and transport it in an insulated car or refrigerated car. Even in such a case, in the current situation in Japan, it is easily considered that the cold chain is broken and exposed to high temperatures. In such a case, cucumber 1gr
When the cucumber is hermetically sealed and packed in a package having an oxygen permeation amount of less than 3.6 cc / 24 h · atm or a carbon dioxide permeation amount of less than 3.6 cc / 24 h · atm, the inside of the package lacks oxygen (8. (Less than 5%) and excess carbon dioxide (more than 15%), causing physiological disorders in cucumber and producing alcohol and acetaldehyde. Conversely, if the oxygen permeation rate per 1 gr of cucumber exceeds 35 cc / 24 h · atm, the oxygen concentration in the package exceeds 18.5% and the respiration of cucumber cannot be suppressed, so that the MA effect cannot be obtained. For this reason, the cucumber package has an oxygen transmission rate of 1 gr at a temperature of 15 to 35 ° C. so that the oxygen concentration in the package is 8.5 to 18.5% and the carbon dioxide concentration is 1.5 to 15%. It must be adjusted to 3.6 to 35 cc / 24 h · atm per unit, and the carbon dioxide permeation amount to 3.6 to 39.4 cc / 24 h · atm. In order to use the package of the present invention more effectively, it is necessary to understand how long the package is exposed to and how long, and in accordance with that, the oxygen permeation amount of the package within the above range, It is desirable to set the carbon dioxide permeation amount.

[0007] In the current domestic distribution, a solid cold chain is not established as in the United States. Therefore, even if a refrigerated vehicle is used, the temperature of goods rises when loading / unloading luggage, or a retail store from a vehicle may be used. In many cases, the product is left at room temperature for a while while being placed in a refrigerator, and the temperature of the product often rises. For this reason, the oxygen and carbon dioxide permeation amount of the package is preferably set according to the worst conditions during distribution in order to prevent the cucumber from deteriorating due to anaerobic breathing. It is desirable to change the amount of gas permeation of the body depending on the season, but in many cases it is not possible to cope with this in the field. In this case, it is necessary to design the package assuming the summer, which is the worst condition.

The package used in the present invention has a water vapor transmission rate of 40 gr / 24 h · m ² (JIS Z 0208,40) in order to prevent wilting and “penetration” due to evaporation of cucumber.
C., 90% RH, 0.1 mm) or less, preferably 35 gr / 24 h · m ² (JIS Z 0208, 40 ° C., 90% RH, 0.1 m)
m) It is desirable to use the following synthetic resin films.
The package of the present invention has a fine pore having an average pore diameter of 10 to 100 μm.
However, only a small amount of water escapes from each micropore having a diameter of 100 μm or less, and the amount of water vapor permeated by the package is determined by the water vapor permeability of the film.

As the material of the package used in the present invention, any material can be used as long as it can be used for the packaging of fruits and vegetables, but in general, unstretched polypropylene, stretched polypropylene, polyethylene, Polyvinyl chloride or the like is used, but other films such as polyamide, polyester, and polycarbonate may be used, and further, a composite film of these may be used. A fogged film can be used. The thickness of these films is usually 20 to
Those having a size of 60 μm are used. Further, these films may be transparent, or may have a printed surface. By forming micropores having an average pore diameter of 10 to 100 μm in the film, the package can be adjusted to the amount of gas permeation necessary for storing cucumber. Regarding the micropores, if the average pore size is 5 μm or less, it is difficult to process, and if the average pore size is 150 μm or more, the number of holes per pack is reduced, so that the gas composition in the bag is difficult to adjust, and the Average pore size 10-10
0 μm is preferred.

Depending on the shape and weight of the package, the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide permeated by the material used may be sufficient (for example, by enlarging the bag). If a plastic film generally used is used, it is necessary to provide micropores in the package in order to satisfy the oxygen and carbon dioxide permeation amount of the present invention or the gas composition in the package. In this case, the permeation amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the package is determined by both the gas permeation amount of the material itself and the gas permeation amount determined by the size and number of the micropores. Some materials have selective permeability, so that the permeation amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide is not 1: 1 and this point also needs to be considered. The permselectivity refers to the difference in the amount of permeation of oxygen and carbon dioxide depending on the material, for example, a 25 μm-thick stretched polypropylene (OP
In P), the oxygen permeation amount is 2500 cc / m ² · 24 h · atm, whereas the carbon dioxide permeation amount is 8500 cc / m ² · 24 h · atm. However, polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
When using a material with high gas barrier properties like
The gas permeability of the package is determined by the pores.

The package used in the present invention needs to be sealed in order to obtain the MA effect, but when using a bag, the method may be any method such as heat sealing, tying band, rubber band, caulking, etc. . The form of packaging is not limited to bags, and for example, a tray container with a top seal may be used. The purpose of use is not limited to retail packaging, but it can also be used as a distribution MA cardboard box in which a large bag provided with gas permeability is integrated with a cardboard box.

[0012]

【Example】

<< Example 1 >> Micropores (average) having a size of 300 mm in length and 180 mm in width with an oxygen permeability of 14 to 17 cc / 24 h · atm · gr and a carbon dioxide permeability of 16 to 20 cc / 24 h · atm · gr With a water vapor permeability of 1.3 gr / 24 h · m ² (JIS Z0208, 40 ° C., 90% RH, with a hole diameter of 60 μm, 45 to 50 holes)
0.1 mm) in a bag made of anti-fogging stretched polypropylene (anti-fogging OPP) having a thickness of 25 μm, and about 45 cucumber (five)
Ogr was packed and sealed, and stored at 33 ° C for 5 days. Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. The number of evaluations was n = 10, and the same number was used for evaluation. << Example 2 >> The oxygen permeation amount of the bag is 8 to 11 cc / 24 h · atm · g.
r, Cucumbers were stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 1 except that micropores (average pore size: 60 μm, 30 to 33) were opened so that the carbon dioxide permeation amount became 10 to 14 cc / 24 h · atm · gr. . Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Example 3 >> The oxygen permeation amount of the bag is 6 to 7.6 cc / 24h · atm.
・ Gr, carbon dioxide permeation amount is 8 ~ 10.6cc / 24h ・ atm ・ g
Micropores (average pore diameter 60 μm, 22 to 25) so that r
The cucumber was stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the cucumber was opened. Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Example 4 >> The bag has an oxygen permeation amount of 5 to 6 cc / 24 h · atm · g.
r, Cucumbers were stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 1 except that micropores (average pore size: 60 μm, 18 to 20) were opened so that the carbon dioxide permeation amount became 7 to 9 cc / 24 h · atm · gr. .
Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. Example 5 Micropores (average) having a size of 300 mm in length and 180 mm in width, having an oxygen permeability of 27 to 30 cc / 24 h · atm · gr and a carbon dioxide permeability of 28 to 33 cc / 24 h · atm · gr With a water vapor permeability of 1.3 gr / 24 h · m ² (JIS Z0208, 40 ° C., 90% RH, with a hole diameter of 60 μm, 82 to 92 holes)
0.1 mm) in a bag made of anti-fogging stretched polypropylene (anti-fogging OPP) having a thickness of 25 μm, and about 45 cucumber (five)
Ogr was packed and sealed, and stored at 20 ° C for 5 days. Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Example 6 >> Cucumbers were stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the storage temperature was 20 ° C. Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Example 7 >> Cucumbers were stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the storage temperature was 20 ° C. Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. Example 8 Cucumbers were stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the storage temperature was 20 ° C. Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Example 9 >> The size, length 300 mm, width 180 mm, oxygen permeation amount is 4 to 4.6 cc / 24 h · atm · gr, and carbon dioxide permeation amount is 6 to 7.6 cc / 24 h · atm · gr. Micropores (average pore diameter 60 μm, 17-18 holes) were opened and the water vapor transmission rate was 1.3 gr / 24 h · m ² (JIS Z0208, 40 ° C., 90% RH,
0.1 mm) in a bag made of anti-fogging stretched polypropylene (anti-fogging OPP) having a thickness of 25 μm, and about 45 cucumber (five)
Ogr was packed and sealed, and stored at 20 ° C for 5 days. Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Example 10 >> Example 2 except that the storage temperature was 15 ° C.
The cucumber was stored for 5 days in the same manner as described above. Table 1 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time.

<< Comparative Example 1 >> The bag used had an oxygen permeability of 4
0-50cc / 24h ・ atm ・ gr, CO2 permeation amount is 42〜
Fine pores (average pore diameter 90) to be 53cc / 24h • atm • gr
cucumber was stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the cucumber (50 μm, 50 to 65 pieces) was opened. Table 2 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Comparative Example 2 >> The bag used had an oxygen permeable amount of 3 to 3.5.
cc / 24h · atm · gr, carbon dioxide permeation amount is 5-6.5cc /
Micropores (average pore size 60 μm, 1
The cucumber was stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the cucumber was opened. Table 2 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. In particular, the odor was alcoholic. << Comparative Example 3 >> cucumber (5 pieces, about 450 gr) was wrapped with an inorganic porous mixed film and taped (handkerchief packaging)
It was placed in a cardboard box, closed, and stored at the same temperature as in Example 1 for 5 days. Table 2 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Comparative Example 4 >> Cucumbers were stored for 5 days in the same manner as Comparative Example 3 except that the storage temperature was 20 ° C. Table 2 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Comparative Example 5 >> Cucumbers were stored for 5 days in the same manner as Comparative Example 3 except that the storage temperature was 15 ° C. Table 2 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time. << Comparative Example 6 >> The used bag material has a water vapor transmission rate of 60 to
80gr / 24h · m ² (JIS Z 0208, 40 ° C, 90% RH, 0.1m
m) is a non-stretched polyamide (nylon 6) having a thickness of 30 μm and an oxygen permeation amount of 8 to 11 cc / 24 h · atm · gr;
The cucumber was stored for 5 days in the same manner as in Example 1 except that micropores (average pore size: 60 μm, 36 to 40) were opened so that the carbon dioxide permeation amount became 8 to 11 cc / 24 h · atm · gr. Table 2 shows the results of the quality evaluation of the cucumber at that time.

[0015]

[0016] ：: 10 of them have commercial value △: One or more of those with limited merchantability are included ×: One or more of those without merchantability are included The gas composition in the bag is an average of n = 10

[0017]

The cucumber wrapped using the cucumber freshness preserving package of the present invention is less discolored and slim than the current handkerchief-packed cucumber, and is necessary for the cucumber to breathe normally. Since the minimum amount of oxygen is supplied, no odor is generated due to apnea when fruits and vegetables are simply sealed and packaged.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. 1 g of cucumber at a temperature of 15 to 35 ° C.
The permeation amount of oxygen is 3.6 to 35 cc / 24 h · atm, the permeation amount of carbon dioxide is 3.6 to 39.4 cc / 24 h · atm, and the water vapor transmission rate is 40 gr / 24 h · m ² (JIS Z 0208, 40 ° C, 90
% RH, 0.1 mm) and the following characteristics, an average pore diameter 10~100μ
A cucumber package, wherein the cucumber is hermetically sealed with a plastic film having m micropores . 2. When cucumber is packaged under a temperature condition of 15 to 35 ° C., the oxygen concentration in the packaging material is 8.5 to 18.5%,
The cucumber package according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide concentration is 1.5 to 15%. 3. The amount of oxygen permeation per 1 gr of cucumber.
6-35cc / 24h · atm, carbon dioxide permeation amount 3.6-3
9.4 cc / 24h · atm and water vapor transmission rate 40gr / 24
The cucumber is hermetically sealed and packaged with a plastic film having characteristics not more than h · m ² (JIS Z 0208, 40 ° C., 90% RH, 0.1 mm) and micropores having an average pore diameter of 10 to 100 μm.
A cucumber preservation method, wherein the cucumber is preserved at 8.5 to 18.5% in oxygen and 1.5 to 15% in carbon dioxide.