Studies on Storage Quality Evaluation of Dried Wild Pomegranate Arils (Anardana) Prepared in Mechanical Cabinet Drier

Wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), fruit is widely found in hilly slopes of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. It contains higher amount of acid content along with other quality characteristics. To exploit the appreciable amount of acid content in this fruit, a popular dried product known as anardana was prepared in mechanical cabinet drier from the fruits procured from Karsog area of Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, India (1265 m above mean sea level). The anardana was packed in aluminium laminated pouch with vacuum (ALPV), aluminium laminated pouch (ALP) and gunny bags which were stored under ambient and refrigerated storage conditions so as to study the effect of packaging and storage on its quality. During storage, moisture, water activity, reducing sugars, NEB (Non enzymatic browning), HMF (Hydroxymethyl furfural) and furfural content increased whereas, TSS (Total soluble solids), titratable acidity, total sugars, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, starch, total fibre and residual SO2 decreased during storage. After 12 months of storage period, higher retention of various quality characteristics was observed in anardana packed in ALPV followed by ALP and gunny bags. However, changes were slower in refrigerated storage conditions as compared to that under ambient conditions.