Up-Cycling Broccoli Stalks into Fresh-Cut Sticks: Postharvest Strategies for Quality and Shelf-Life Enhancement
Broccoli stalks are considered an agro-industrial by-product that, in the context of fresh consumption, is undervalued, as only broccoli florets are typically marketed. This study evaluated the up-cycling of broccoli stalks into a value-added fresh-cut product through postharvest preservation strate...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Nieves García-Lorca José Ángel Salas-Millán Encarna Aguayo |
| author_facet | Nieves García-Lorca José Ángel Salas-Millán Encarna Aguayo |
| author_sort | Nieves García-Lorca |
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| description | Broccoli stalks are considered an agro-industrial by-product that, in the context of fresh consumption, is undervalued, as only broccoli florets are typically marketed. This study evaluated the up-cycling of broccoli stalks into a value-added fresh-cut product through postharvest preservation strategies. Stalks were peeled, cut into sticks (8 × 8 mm × 50–100 mm), sanitised, packaged under modified atmosphere conditions, and stored at 5 °C. Treatments included (a) calcium ascorbate (CaAsc, 1% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), (b) trehalose (TREH, 5% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), (c) hot water treatment (HWT, 55 °C, 1 min), and several combinations of them. HWT alone was highly effective in reducing browning, a key factor for achieving an extended shelf-life, controlling microbial growth and respiration, and obtaining the highest sensory scores (appearance = 7.3 on day 11). However, it was less effective in preserving bioactive compounds. The HWT + CaAsc treatment proved to be the most effective at optimising quality and retaining health-promoting compounds. It increased vitamin C retention by 78%, antioxidant capacity by 68%, and total phenolic content by 65% compared to the control on day 11. This synergistic effect was attributed to the antioxidant action of ascorbic acid in CaAsc. TREH alone showed no preservative effect, inducing browning, elevated respiration, and microbial proliferation. Overall, combining mild thermal and antioxidant treatments offers a promising strategy to valorise broccoli stalks as fresh-cut snacks. An 11-day shelf-life at 5 °C was achieved, with increased content of health-promoting bioactive compounds, while supporting circular economy principles and contributing to food loss mitigation. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-d24ef7f5c44a4ab49ccf40de1572bbed2025-08-20T03:58:31ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-07-011414247610.3390/foods14142476Up-Cycling Broccoli Stalks into Fresh-Cut Sticks: Postharvest Strategies for Quality and Shelf-Life EnhancementNieves García-Lorca0José Ángel Salas-Millán1Encarna Aguayo2Postharvest and Refrigeration Group, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT), Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, SpainFood Quality and Health Group, Institute of Plant Biotechnology (IBV-UPCT), Campus Muralla Del Mar, R&D Building, 30202 Cartagena, SpainPostharvest and Refrigeration Group, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT), Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, SpainBroccoli stalks are considered an agro-industrial by-product that, in the context of fresh consumption, is undervalued, as only broccoli florets are typically marketed. This study evaluated the up-cycling of broccoli stalks into a value-added fresh-cut product through postharvest preservation strategies. Stalks were peeled, cut into sticks (8 × 8 mm × 50–100 mm), sanitised, packaged under modified atmosphere conditions, and stored at 5 °C. Treatments included (a) calcium ascorbate (CaAsc, 1% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), (b) trehalose (TREH, 5% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), (c) hot water treatment (HWT, 55 °C, 1 min), and several combinations of them. HWT alone was highly effective in reducing browning, a key factor for achieving an extended shelf-life, controlling microbial growth and respiration, and obtaining the highest sensory scores (appearance = 7.3 on day 11). However, it was less effective in preserving bioactive compounds. The HWT + CaAsc treatment proved to be the most effective at optimising quality and retaining health-promoting compounds. It increased vitamin C retention by 78%, antioxidant capacity by 68%, and total phenolic content by 65% compared to the control on day 11. This synergistic effect was attributed to the antioxidant action of ascorbic acid in CaAsc. TREH alone showed no preservative effect, inducing browning, elevated respiration, and microbial proliferation. Overall, combining mild thermal and antioxidant treatments offers a promising strategy to valorise broccoli stalks as fresh-cut snacks. An 11-day shelf-life at 5 °C was achieved, with increased content of health-promoting bioactive compounds, while supporting circular economy principles and contributing to food loss mitigation.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/14/2476calcium ascorbatehot water treatmenttrehaloseglucosinolatescircular economyrevalorisation |
| spellingShingle | Nieves García-Lorca José Ángel Salas-Millán Encarna Aguayo Up-Cycling Broccoli Stalks into Fresh-Cut Sticks: Postharvest Strategies for Quality and Shelf-Life Enhancement Foods calcium ascorbate hot water treatment trehalose glucosinolates circular economy revalorisation |
| title | Up-Cycling Broccoli Stalks into Fresh-Cut Sticks: Postharvest Strategies for Quality and Shelf-Life Enhancement |
| title_full | Up-Cycling Broccoli Stalks into Fresh-Cut Sticks: Postharvest Strategies for Quality and Shelf-Life Enhancement |
| title_fullStr | Up-Cycling Broccoli Stalks into Fresh-Cut Sticks: Postharvest Strategies for Quality and Shelf-Life Enhancement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Up-Cycling Broccoli Stalks into Fresh-Cut Sticks: Postharvest Strategies for Quality and Shelf-Life Enhancement |
| title_short | Up-Cycling Broccoli Stalks into Fresh-Cut Sticks: Postharvest Strategies for Quality and Shelf-Life Enhancement |
| title_sort | up cycling broccoli stalks into fresh cut sticks postharvest strategies for quality and shelf life enhancement |
| topic | calcium ascorbate hot water treatment trehalose glucosinolates circular economy revalorisation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/14/2476 |
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