PROCESS FOR PRESERVATION OF VEGETABLE MATTER
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a method for preserving vegetable matter, particularly vegetables and herbs, by subjecting these to an ultra high pressure treatment.
Background of the invention
Many methods are known in the prior art that can extend the closed shelf life of vegetable matter. These methods mainly comprise storing the vegetable matter in preserving liquids.
These liquids contain relatively high levels of salt and/or are very sour. This has a severe and adverse impact on the taste of the vegetable matter. While a salty or sour taste is quite normal for pickled vegetables, it is not acceptable for the heat-treated, particularly the roasted vegetables used for sandwiches, which should have a rather mild taste. The use of- those salty or sour preserving liquids may allow a one year preservation time, but in that time the taste of the preserved heat-treated vegetables has been deteriorated and is much different from the taste of freshly roasted or grilled vegetables.
US 5925395 describes methods for preserving fresh vegetables wherein fresh vegetables are cut and exposed to a preserving aqueous solution comprising 0.1 - 10 wt. % of calcium ions and 0.1 - 30 wt.% of ascorbate ions or erythrobate ions. Storage without losing fresh taste, appearance and crispiness is claimed for up to 10 days.
This method relates to vegetables that apart from being cut have not been further processed.
The fresh vegetables described in WO96/14760 are kept in a film, which contains a marinating agent, comprising vinegar, sugar, salt, flavourings and others.
Vegetables roasted in an oven belong to the standard ingredients of certain food products, especially packed ready- to-eat sandwiches. For this application the heat-treated vegetables need an extended shelf-life during which their appearance and taste are closely resembling the appearance and taste of fresh heat-treated vegetables. In WO 03/063600 a method is described where vegetables which have been roasted are submersed in a preserving aqueous marinade. This method provides the roasted vegetables with an extended storage time during which their good taste and appearance is retained and microbiological safety is ensured too. The method requires a specific marinade which can not be easily separated from the vegetables and which may be not compatible with the finόύ. food composition. _
The method described in copending non-prepublished European patent application EP03079174.3 is based on shortly immersing the vegetable matter to be preserved in heated oil followed by storage under oil which may be at ambient temperature.
A more recent method is subjecting vegetable matter to ultra high pressure (UHP) with the effect that microbial activity is diminished or destroyed. UHP preservation has the advantage that a flavour and appearance affecting heat treatment and addition of unnatural preservation agents are redundant.
Summary of the invention
The present invention relates to a method as defined in claim 1 with the surprising effect that the typical flavour and appearance of the preserved vegetable matter are retained during subsequent storage even at ambient temperatures.
Detailed Description of the invention The present invention pertains to an easily applicable method of preserving the taste and appearance of vegetable matter irrespective whether it has been subjected to a heat treatment.
In the context of the present specification vegetable matter is understood to comprise also mushrooms and the type of fruit which does not deteriorate under UHP conditions. Suitable vegetable matter for use in the invention comprises peppers, courgettes, aubergines, carrots, mushrooms and/or members of the botanical family of Allium such as onions and garlic, but preferably consists of one or more items selected from the group consisting of herbs, peppers, vegetables, garlic and onions.
Herbs preferably are selected from the group consisting of rosemary, parsley, basil, marjoram, oreganum, mint, thyme, bay, dill, mace, sage, sorrel, fennel and cress.
After an optional washing step the vegetable matter may be cut into pieces, slices or rings, preferably with a thickness of 0.4 - 1.5 cm and more preferably 0.5 - 1.0 cm. Before the pressure treatment the vegetable matter may be fried in a frying oil as is usual when preparing a soffrito to be used in an Italian style dish.
The method of the present invention is characterized in that the UHP exposure is maintained for a period of 0.5-50 min, while the selected vegetable matter is present in a closed vegetable pouch, immersed in edible oil or at least surrounded by a layer of edible oil. Preferably, the amount of oil in the closed vegetable pouch is 20wt%-500wt% of the weight of the vegetable matter, more preferably 30wt-500wt%, even more preferably 40wt%-500wt% and most preferably at 40wt%-200wt.%, for instance about 100wt.% of the weight of the vegetable matter. The oil has a temperature in the range 0-700C, preferably 5-500C, more preferably around room temperature (200C) . The ultra high pressure level is selected from the range 50-1000 MPa and preferably from the range 100-700 MPa, more preferably 200-700 MPa. After the UHP exposure, the pouch remains closed and is placed in storage so that the vegetable matter contents while either immersed in oil or at least covered with an oily layer are protected against microbial deterioration and against oxidation. The edible oil preferably is a vegetable oil which is selected, preferably from the group consisting of soybean oil, sunflower oil, arachide oil and, preferably, olive oil and mixtures of these oils.
The optimum temperature and optimum duration of the UHP treatment varies with the nature of the vegetable matter. With some trial experiments the skilled man is able to select an operational window of suitable temperatures and times for obtaining the desired effect.
Optionally, further ingredients are added to the content of the pouch, e.g. selected flavouring agents, such as herbs and spices.
Preferably, the oxygen amount or oxygen concentration in the pouch is reduced, before the pouch is tightly sealed and is exposed to UHP. For instance, the air in the pouch may be removed by evacuation. In order to allow the consumer inspecting the package contents, preferably a package material is used which is at least partially transparent, e.g. polyethylene. Cooled storage may prolonge the shelf life but is not necessary.
The vegetable matter in the package preferably is selected and apportioned such that it can be used as part of a meal kit, for use in preparing e.g. an Italian meal. The pouch contents preferably are used for a so-called soffritto. When preparing the meal the content of the soffrito pouch needs only a short heating. The further soffritto ingredients preferably are included in the pouch.
Although in general it is known to use UHP for preservation of vegetables, the advantageous effect of applying a surrounding oil on the long lasting attractive appearance of the vegetable matter is new and surprising.
The taste and appearance of the treated vegetable matter covered with oil after the treatment according to the invention can be stored for months without deterioration of the contents appearance or flavour. The high pressure exposure has a pasteurising effect. Therefore it is not necessary to add a preservation agent. Because the package is evacuated and tightly closed, also addition of an anti-oxidant is redundant.
Beyond use in a meal kit, the present UHP stabilised vegetable matter is suited for a lot of further applications such as other use in home kitchen or professinal kitchen. With respect to taste and appearance the preserved vegetables closely resemble fresh heat-treated vegetables.
Examples
A vegetable mixture (sofritto) having the following composition was made:
9 g red onion slices 5 g garlic slices 3 g thyme 3 gram rosemary
The vegetable mixture was put into a polyethylene bag, 20 g extra virgin olive oil was added and the bag was sealed.
For examples 1-4, the sealed bags were treated in an ultra- high-pressure apparatus with a barrel (ex—EPSI) and a pump (ex Stansted) at the pressures and during times as indicated in table 1.
In examples 1-4, the products after UHP treatment had a good colour and appearance very similar to the untreated vegetable mixture. The level of preservation was determined by microbial counts on selective agar plates For data see table 1.
Table 1: Results of examples 1-12 and comparative experiment A; Microbial counts at start (day 0) and after two and four weeks storage.
Example No. Microbial Counts
Description
Type Day 0 After 2 after 4 weeks weeks
A Blank Total viable counts 2.0E+05 1.48E+08 2.80E+08
not treated Total anaerobic 2.0E+04 1.36E+08 2.30E+08 viable counts
Oil Aerobic sporeformers 4.0E+01 1.20E+02 2.00E+01
Anaerobic < 10 2.00E+02 3.00E+01 sporeformers
1 Total viable counts 1.2E+02 3.00E+01 9.00E+01
400 MPa lmin Total anaerobic 2.0E+01 6.00E+01 < 10 viable counts
Oil Aerobic sporeformers l.OE+01 6.00E+01 5.00E+01
Anaerobic l.OE+01 < 10 < 10 sporeformers
2 Total viable counts 7.0E+01 3.00E+01 l.OOE+01
400 MPa 5min Total anaerobic < 10 2.00E+01 < 10 viable counts
Oil Aerobic sporeformers 2.0E+01 l.OOE+01 l.OOE+01
Anaerobic < 10 < 10 < 10 sporeformers —
3 Total viable counts 7.0E+01 3.00E+01 1.10E+02
600 MPa lmin Total anaerobic < 10 < 10 l.OOE+01 viable counts
Oil Aerobic sporeformers < 10 < 10 4.00E+01
Anaerobic l.OE+01 < 10 < 10 sporeformers
4 Total viable counts 1.5E+02 < 10 l.OOE+01
600 MPa 5min Total anaerobic 1.1E+02 < 10 < 10 viable counts
Oil Aerobic sporeformers 3.0E+01 < 10 2.00E+01
Anaerobic 3.0E+01 2.00E+01 < 10 sporeformers
The results in table 1 show that effective preservation, also long term, was achieved in examples 1-4 and that in comparative experiment A, the product was spoiled.