Analisis mutu buah nanas (Ananas comosus (L) Merr) pada metode penyimpanan Zero Energy Cool Chamber (ZECC) dengan kombinasi pengemasan

Abstract

Pineapple is a non-climacteric fruit and has a highly perishable nature, making it prone to damage and decay, with a shelf life of only 4–6 days. Packaging using Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polypropylene (PP) can help maintain humidity and reduce transpiration, thereby slowing down quality deterioration in pineapples. Storage using a Zero Energy Cool Chamber (ZECC) is capable of slowing the rate of respiration and fruit deterioration. ZECC is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient scientific evaporative cooling system. The ZECC structure consists of double walls made of bricks. The outer section measures 120 cm × 120 cm × 40 cm, while the inner section measures 100 cm × 100 cm × 50 cm. The gap between the outer and inner walls is approximately 7.5 cm, and this space is filled with sand that is kept continuously moist. This study aims to determine the quality and characteristics of pineapples stored in ZECC with different packaging treatments. The research used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with different packaging treatments: no packaging, LDPE packaging, and PP packaging. Each treatment was repeated three times, resulting in 9 experimental units. Observations were conducted every 2 days over a period of 10 days, with a total of 45 samples. The observed parameters included texture, vitamin C content, weight loss, and color (Lab*). The results showed that different packaging treatments had a significant effect on weight loss, texture, vitamin C content, and color changes during several days of storage. The best treatment was obtained with LDPE packaging, which extended the shelf life up to 10 days, with average parameter values of texture (34.91 N), vitamin C (41.16%), weight loss (3.60%), L* color (33.11), a* color (11.17), and b* color (32.72).).

Keywords:
Pineapple, Low Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Zero Energy Cool Chamber