Microwave energy was applied to inactivate the oxydoreductases peroxidase (
POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO, EC 1.14.18.1) in processed f
ruit products. Microwave blanching of papaya, strawberry and kiwi purees at
various conditions of power and time produced inactivation of PPO and POD
activities depending on the fruit and the heating conditions. Treatment at
850 W/60 s produced about 60% of POD inactivation for papaya and kiwi fruit
. POD activity in strawberry, however, seemed to be more resistant to micro
wave inactivation; treatment at 850 W/60s only achieved a loss of POD activ
ity near 8%. Papaya oxidoreductases showed lower stability in the microwave
treatments tested. Microwave blanching at 475 W/45 s produced about 75% in
activation of POD activity and nearly complete PPO inactivation. Kiwi fruit
and strawberry purees exhibited similar inactivation of PPO - 32% at 475 W
/30 s and 70% at 475 W/60 s. The decrease of PPO activity in both products
was almost linear at constant power. This thermal treatment, however, direc
tly affects the colour of the fruit pulps. Papaya, kiwi and strawberry pure
es suffered slight colour (CIE L*a*b*) changes. Carotenoid, chlorophyll and
anthocyanin changes were evaluated by HPLC and related to objective colour
. Microwave treatments produced small modifications of the quantitative and
qualitative composition of carotenoids (in papaya) and anthocyanins (in st
rawberry). Chlorophylls (kiwi) showed significant degradation as a conseque
nce of microwave heating. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.