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Effect of Lye Peeling Conditions on Sweet Potato Tissue

Authors

  • WILLIAM M. WALTER JR.,

    1. Authors Walter and Schadel are with the USDA-SEA-ARS, Southern Region, and North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Dept. of Food Science, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27650.
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  • WILLIAM E. SCHADEL

    1. Authors Walter and Schadel are with the USDA-SEA-ARS, Southern Region, and North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Dept. of Food Science, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27650.
    Search for more papers by this author

  • Paper no. 6988 of the journal series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC.

  • Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture or North Carolina State Univ., nor does it imply approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.

  • Presented at the 41st annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists, Atlanta, GA, June 7–10, 1981.

ABSTRACT

Heat penetration effects on sweet potato tissue resulting from three lye peeling treatments were evaluated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Heat-mediated starch gelatinization, cell wall separation, chromoplast disruption, and enzymatic discoloration were observed in varying degrees according to the peeling treatment. Starch gelatinization, cell wall separation, and chromoplast disruption decreased in the order: 15-min peel; 30-min pre-soak (water 78–83°C), followed by a 6-min peel; 6-min peel. Discoloration occurred in significant amounts only in the 6-min peel because heat penetration was sufficient to disrupt lacticifer organization but insufficient to inactivate the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme. The 30-min pre-soak, 6-min peel treatment provided the most attractive finished product.

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